Daniel Suarez thankful for SVG’s help, but foresees closer race at Chicago this year

Daniel Suarez was recently asked how having Shane van Gisbergen as a teammate to lean on has helped him and Ross Chastain. Suarez was asked this question in a press conference ahead of the second Chicago Street Course race

The #99 driver revealed that last season, SVG ended up being a big help for Trackhouse because of his larger experience than the rest on street courses.

However, Daniel Suarez believed in 2025, the picture has changed.

"I felt that last year, he (Shane van Gisbergen) helped our entire program a lot because, like I said, nobody had experience in street course racing last year. In my entire career before last year, I had two races in the streets; one was in go-karts and one was in a Trans Am, and that was it. Ross (Chastain) had never raced a street course before. Most of us had never seen a street course before. Shane (van Gisbergen), he had been doing street races.. like 100 races. He’s experience in street course racing.. he’s tremendous. I mean last year, he had more experience than the entire field combined," Suarez described. [2:55]

The Atlanta photo-finish winner from this season

But this year, while the Kiwi has helped the entire program again, his competition now has more experience.

"Everyone knows what to expect; what to do, what not to do.. things like that. I believe that Shane is going to be extremely strong this weekend again. But I think, like I said, there will be a lot more contenders in the mix," Daniel Suarez added.

Daniel Suarez believes the #99 team has work to do ahead of playoffs

Speaking about his progress this season, Daniel Suarez claimed the #99 team, despite already being in the playoffs, has more work to do.

Apart from his win at Atlanta which came right at the start of the season, Suarez has finished inside the top 5 only once (Texas). Other than that, the Mexican has one finish inside the top 10 (Iowa).

"I believe if the playoffs were starting tomorrow, we would really change the mindset and the way we've been doing things. But saying that, it's impossible to go to the playoffs and flip a switch and be strong," he said as per Yardbarker.

Suarez claimed that when they have good speed, they finish strong and can execute a good race with a top 5 or top 10 finish. The one thing that Suarez singled out in the room to improve was the team's consistency. He claimed that the #99 team has been "trying to hit a jackpot too much."

Suarez added that they have to be better than that, and only then can they go deep into the playoffs.