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Kurt Busch Eager For A Shot At Indy 500

Kurt Busch, a former Sprint All-Star race winner, poses with winning trophy at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.  [Joe Jennings Photo]

Charlotte, NC– Kurt Busch first got enthused about racing in the Indianapolis 500 about three years ago and after a test drive a year ago May, his interest heightened but the interest of his boosters tapered off around the Christmas season, only to be re-ignited recently.  At the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by the Charlotte Motor Speedway, he projected a 70 per cent chance of it happening in 2014.

But for Busch race at Indianapolis, dozens of pieces of the puzzle have to fit together, as doing the double – the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte – is a monumental undertaking.   Among the many pieces are identifying a race team, sponsorship, transportation, scheduling, practice and qualifying, approvals from IndyCar and NASCAR officials and on and on.  Even though the challenges seem staggering, Busch seem ready to give it a shot.

“I am serious about doing the double, and there are a lot of green lights on different hurdles to be overcome, but it continues to grab traction,” Busch said.  “I am excited about it, and I have to look at it as either a dream come true or a business opportunity.  When you are talking with guys like (Michael) Andretti, you want to push aside the business side for the love of the sport.”

Knowing the physical demands on his body, Busch added, “If I commit to this and the sooner the better, that same day I am going to hire a trainer to get ready for doing the two races in the same day.”

Gene Haas, co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, has given his approval but he advised Busch not to lose sight of the a-important Sprint Cup program.  “He’s invested millions, and I don’t want to lose track of that,” Busch noted.

Busch had intended to race in the IndyCar finale at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, but didn’t do so, although he was glued to the television that day.   “To me the way that race unfolded, the slow and steady driver managed to win the race. Will that happen at Indy?  I don’t think so.  I was really intrigued with what I saw during my test in May and what I saw in October”

The former Sprint Cup champion said he didn’t know what to expect the first time out in an IndyCar, but he readily adapted.  “I was white-knuckled for three quarters of the test but once I settled in and held in wide open, the comfort level was starting to settle in.  When Michael (Andretti) started to make changes to give me more speed, I suggested we stop while we were ahead.”

As for running wide-open laps, Busch said he had to talk to himself into it.  “It was a long conversation within a few seconds where I kept asking myself if I was ready,” he said while sporting a big grin.  “Holding it wide open for four corners in a row is an experience I will never forget.  It was an experience of a lifetime.”

Busch grooves on challenges and new experiences, and even though there are many hurdles to address, he says he’s ready.  And if he does so, it would seem the IndyCar Series, NASCAR, television and the fans would benefit.

 

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