The era of the road-course ringer is back.
After the introduction of the Chase and, subsequently, the playoffs, the use of ringers in the Cup Series dropped significantly in the late 2000s and into the 2010s. But with more road-course races than ever on the schedule and a new generation of cars that are more appealing to international drivers, the specialists are once again making an impact in NASCAR.
Trackhouse’s Project 91 is the epitome of the road-course ringer concept, with a specific part-time entry designed to get motorsports stars from around the world into Cup Series races. It paid off at the Chicago Street Race, where Shane van Gisbergen won the abbreviated event in an unbelievable performance.
As the Cup Series heads to the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend for the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard, here’s what you need to know about the five road-course ringers set to take the green flag on Sunday.
Shane van Gisbergen
Notable accomplishments: 2023 Chicago Street Race winner, three-time Supercars champion, 80-time Supercars winner, two-time Bathurst 1000 winner, 2016 Bathurst 12 Hour winner
Van Gisbergen stunned the NASCAR world in July when he became the first Cup Series driver to win in his debut since 1963. Now that the garage is well aware of his talent, SVG returns at Indianapolis with a host of expectations.
The 34-year-old New Zealander has made it abundantly clear he intends to leave Australia’s Supercars series after the 2023 season and join NASCAR full-time in 2024. His maiden win at Chicago put his name on the map for Cup Series teams, and this weekend can solidify his position as a premier free agent.
Not only is van Gisbergen returning with the Trackhouse No. 91 entry, but he’s also making his oval debut on asphalt Friday in the Craftsman Truck Series race at Lucas Oil Raceway with Niece Motorsports.
This weekend isn’t just about winning for van Gisbergen, even though he’ll have an excellent chance to do so. Naturally, that will be the ultimate goal Sunday, but he will also be seeing what opportunities are available for the 2024 NASCAR campaign.
Van Gisbergen has done everything there is to do in Australian motorsports. He’s won the Supercars title three times. He’s a two-time Bathurst 1000 winner. He’s even won the Bathurst 12 Hour with McLaren. The only thing left to do is chase Jamie Whincup’s record of seven titles and 124 wins.
But with recent changes to the Supercars series that left van Gisbergen dissatisfied with the racing product, now’s the time to make a major change and legitimately pursue NASCAR.
Indianapolis certainly won’t be the last NASCAR fans see of SVG.
Jenson Button
Notable accomplishments: 2009 Formula One champion, 15-time Grand Prix winner, 50-time F1 podium finisher
Button is undoubtedly the highest-profile ringer this weekend. The 2009 Formula One world champion raced in two Cup Series events this season in the Rick Ware Racing No. 15 Ford and will do it again this weekend in Indiana.
The Brit’s NASCAR foray has been impressive. He finished 18th at Circuit of the Americas and qualified 8th in Chicago before finishing 21st. The No. 15 car will again have support from Stewart-Haas Racing.
The 43-year-old also raced NASCAR’s Garage 56 entry alongside Jimmie Johnson and Mike Rockenfeller at Le Mans in June.
Sunday is Button’s final confirmed appearance in the Cup Series as his three-race slate announced prior to the season comes to a close. But the former McLaren F1 driver has been vocal about enjoying the series and hasn’t closed the door on a potential oval debut in the future.
“I feel that I had more wheel action on the first lap of the race in COTA than I do in a whole Grand Prix,” Button said, according to NASCAR.com.
“Does it make me want to do more? Yeah, I mean, road courses, yes; ovals I would love to try one day, but you know, it’s another world,” he continued.
Sunday may be Button’s final NASCAR race for 2023, but it appears he’s quite interested in coming back in some capacity in 2024.
Kamui Kobayashi
Notable accomplishments: 2012 Japanese Grand Prix podium, 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, two-time WEC champion, two-time Rolex 24 winner
The No. 67 23XI Toyota makes a triumphant return to the field this weekend with Toyota’s top international driver in Kobayashi behind the wheel.
Kobayashi made a name for himself in Formula One with Sauber in the early 2010s, highlighted by a dream podium in his home race at Suzuka in 2012. Since joining Toyota Gazoo Racing in the World Endurance Championship in 2016, Kobayashi has arguably been the fastest man in sports car racing.
The 36-year-old has compiled 15 wins and 18 pole positions in WEC’s top class over 51 races. He’s a six-time podium finisher at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – finally breaking through for the win in 2021 – and set the current lap record at the track in 2017.
Kobayashi has shared cars with motorsports superstars like Fernando Alonso, Jimmie Johnson, and Scott Dixon in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, where he’s won twice.
Indianapolis will be Kobayashi’s first race in a stock car. He tested the Next Gen car at Virginia International Raceway recently, where car owner Denny Hamlin and teammate Tyler Reddick were impressed with his pace.
With his lack of experience in stock cars, Kobayashi will be the biggest wildcard of the ringers at Indianapolis.
Brodie Kostecki
Notable accomplishments: three-time Supercars race winner
Kostecki’s in the midst of a breakout season in Australia with Erebus Motorsport. He leads the Supercars championship and has racked up three wins this year.
The 25-year-old Aussie gets behind the wheel of the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet this weekend, an open entry that hasn’t entered a race since 2022 with Austin Hill at Michigan.
In 2013, Kostecki came stateside and raced parts of two seasons in the K&N Pro Series East. Competing against the likes of current Cup Series drivers Ross Chastain, Austin Dillon, Justin Haley, and Daniel Suarez, Kostecki compiled four top tens. His best result was a fifth-place finish at Dover in his final K&N start.
Kostecki doesn’t have the name recognition of the previous three drivers, but that won’t matter on Sunday. He’s proven his speed this year in Australia, he’s familiar with RCR – having worked with the team as a driver in the simulator – and is racing for the team that won at Indianapolis last year.
Don’t underestimate Kostecki’s chances this weekend.
Mike Rockenfeller
Notable accomplishments: 2006 Nurburgring 24 Hour winner, 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, 2010 Rolex 24 winner, 2013 DTM championship, 2017 12 Hours of Sebring winner
Rockenfeller is a late addition to Indianapolis’ grid as he replaces Noah Gragson in the No. 42 Legacy Motor Club entry for the next two races. The 39-year-old German has a sparkling resume featuring wins at Le Mans and Daytona alongside a 15-year career in the German touring car championship DTM.
It’s no surprise that Legacy Motor Club co-owner Jimmie Johnson called upon Rockenfeller as a substitute. The two raced together in IMSA’s DPi class with Ally Cadillac Racing in 2021 and 2022 and again shared a car in June at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with NASCAR’s Garage 56 entry.
Rockenfeller has two Cup Series starts under his belt. He raced for Spire Motorsports at Watkins Glen and the Charlotte Roval last year in the No. 77 entry, finishing 30th and 29th respectively.
Both Legacy Motor Club cars have failed to finish inside the top 15 this season on a road course. Despite his experience, that lack of speed from the No. 42 entry this season makes Rockenfeller the longest shot of the ringers to make noise at the front of the field on Sunday.
The Cup Series race at Indianapolis commences at 2:30 pm ET on Sunday.