“It happens”: Shane van Gisbergen reacts after Chase Briscoe wrecks him out of the Chicago Street race

While NASCAR returned to the 12-turn street circuit in Chicago this year, Shane van Gisbergen's victorious run did not. A contact with Chase Briscoe's no. 14 Ford Mustang in turn 6 pushed van Gisbergen's machine into the outside wall and out of the race. Gisbergen, who started the race fifth, had to settle for a disappointing DNF. However, he did not point fingers at the Stewart-Haas Racing driver.

Shane Van Gisbergen is on a seven-race schedule this year, the Grant Park 165 being the fifth. He will next pilot the number 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Camaro at Watkins Glen and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Last year, Gisbergen won the rain-shortened Grant Park 220, holding off runner-up Justin Haley by 1.259 seconds.

Reflecting on his early exit, the multi-time Supercars champion said:

"I got taken out. It's gutting, you know. I don't know...I felt like I was driving well the whole race; under control. That restart, I looked behind in the (turn) 6 and he just got behind me, so just turned in and then, yeah, took me by surprise really."

When asked if Shane van Gisbergen thought he could have done things differently at the time, the 35-year-old Auckland native said:

"Not looking at it now of course but, it happens."

Nevertheless, Shane Van Gisbergen won Saturday's Xfinity Series race at the Chicago road course after a thrilling battle for the lead with Hendrick Motorsports icon and Cup Series regular, Kyle Larson. Gisbergen currently sits 11th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series standings with 457 points to his name. He also holds the fourth playoff spot.

Shane van Gisbergen reveals why he chose slick tires on Sunday

Just like last year, this year's Grant Park event was plagued by rain. The race, which was supposed to be a 75-lap shootout, was delayed by one hour and 43 minutes and ultimately called at 58 laps. But instead of resorting to wet tires, like those deployed at New Hampshire a few weeks back, most drivers chose to stay on slicks.

Needless to say, Shane van Gisbergen was one of them. During the previous interview with Frontstretch, the New Zealander explained the reason behind the call.

"It was pretty easy," Gisbergen said of the decision. "There was no standing water, no rain for the next 10 or 15 minutes. So it was a basic decision and most guys up front, we kind of just copied each other and I felt like, if everyone stayed on wets it would be risky. It was the right call and after one or two laps, there was big grip on the slicks."

Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman ultimately won the race and thus snapped an 80-race winless drought, dating back to 2022 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. His victory earned him a spot in this year's playoffs along with his HMS teammates, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott and William Byron.