darren, Author at Octane Photography

Feb 06

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Chicago, Nascar, SVG

SVG Wins Chicago

Three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen became the first driver in more than half a century to win a Cup race in their first start, taking the checkered flag in the inaugural Chicago Street Race on Sunday.

“This was so cool,” van Gisbergen told NBC Sports’ Marty Snider. “This is what you dream of. Hopefully I can come and do more.”

The 34-year-old van Gisbergen, who is from Auckland, New Zealand, becomes the first driver since Johnny Rutherford to win in his first Cup start. Rutherford won a Daytona qualifying race in 1963. Van Gisbergen is only the seventh driver in NASCAR’s 75 years to win in their first start.

“He was in a league of his own,” Chase Elliott said of van Gisbergen. “In my opinion, he put on a really big-time clinic. I don’t want to speak for everybody else, but he made me look bad. I kind of think the rest of us, too.”

Kyle Busch noted that van Gisbergen has driven cars similar for Cup cars for years.

“He’s probably four, five, eight years ahead of us in this sort of car,” Busch said.

Van Gisbergen gave Trackhouse Racing its second win in a row. He drove for Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 effort, and his win comes a week after Ross Chastain won at Nashville.

He won a race shortened by darkness after being delayed by rain. The race was to have gone 100 laps but was shortened to 75 laps and then extended four laps by overtime.

Justin Haley finished second and was followed by Elliott, Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch, who overcame an early crash into the Turn 6 tire barrier to score a top five.

Sixth through 10th was Austin Cindric, Michael McDowell, Joey Logano, Ty Gibbs and Chris Buescher.

The race started on a wet course after rain much of the day, which delayed the beginning of the race by about 90 minutes. It was 20 laps in before teams started taking wet weather tires off and putting on slick tires as the racing line dried.

Only once was the track blocked in the event — something that many feared could happen multiple times in the race. The track was blocked in Turn 11 on Lap 50. William Byron missed the corner and then Corey LaJoie and Kevin Harvick made contact, Harvick hit the wall and came across the track and blocked half of it. Other cars ran into each other and the inside lane also was blocked.

Christopher Bell won both stages but saw his chances to win end quickly. When NASCAR announced on Lap 46 that the race would be shortened to 75 laps, he was leading, but some cars had already pitted and were in position to make it to the end. When Bell pitted, he restarted 12th behind those looking to make it to the end of the race.

On Lap 50, Bell was among those cars caught in the incident in Turn 11 that blocked the track. Five laps later, he spun in Turn 1, losing more positions. He finished 18th.

Tyler Reddick saw his hopes for a top-five finish end when he hit the Turn 6 tire barrier while running fourth. He finished 28th.

In the end, no one could catch van Gisbergen.

“The fans in Australia and New Zealand, the response this week and the coverage has been -- I can’t explain it,” he said. “Like the response and the support I’ve got from everyone and even over here how welcoming everyone is, I can’t believe it. Dream come true.”

Feb 06

by darren in Crash 0 comments tags: Marquez, MotoGP, Zarco

Marquez Crash Saschenring

Mark Marquez takes out Johan Zarco at turn 1 during the 2023 Sachsenring MotoGP

Jul 15

by darren in Track 0 comments tags: Supercars, SVG, Winton

SVG Pole Lap Winton 2022

Take a lap with Shane Van Gisbergen on his 2022 Supercars Pole Lap at Winton Raceway.

May 29

by darren in Crash 0 comments tags: Herta, Indy500

Hurta Huge Crash Indy 500

Scary scenes during final practice for the Indianapolis 500 when IndyCar star Colton Herta rolled his car end-over-end in an aerial crash.With 25 minutes remaining during practice, Herta lost control of his Andretti Honda, sliding rear-first into the barrier before the car spectacularly flipped over and slid down the track upside down.

May 19

by darren in Track 0 comments tags: Supercars, Symmons Plains, Waters

Waters On-Board Pole Lap Symmons Plains 2022

Cam Waters Supercars Pole Lap at the 2022 NED Whiskey SuperSprint at Symmons Plains Tasmania…enjoy

Mar 20

by darren in Track 0 comments tags: Supercars, Symmons Plains

Side Drafting in Supercars

Watch this video that explains the theory behind side drafting in V8 Supercars. An effective overtaking manoeuvre especially at Symonns Plains Tasmania

Jun 21

by darren in Track 0 comments tags: Assen, Marquez, MotoGP

On-Board Lap with Marc Marquez Assen 2021

Marc Marquez’s opening laps at the Cathedral of Speed during the 2021 Dutch Grand Prix Assen.

Feb 03

by darren in Crash 0 comments tags: Bahrain, Formula1, Grosjean

Grosjean Fireball 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix

Roman Grosjean escaped death amid a horror Bahrain crash at the 2020 Grand Prix. On November 29, 2020, Romain Grosjean escaped what was close to being a fatal accident at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The French driver made contact with the AlphaTauri of Daniil Kvyat on the opening lap and broke through the track barrier at close to 120 miles per hour. The car was immediately broken in two and erupted into a ball of flames. Grosjean was trapped in the flaming car for 28 seconds before freeing himself from the constraints inside the cockpit, he hoisted himself out of the fire and climbed over the guardrail to safety.

Jan 18

by darren in Track 0 comments tags: Holden, Mostert, Panorama

Mostert Record Lap at the 2021 Bathurst 1000

Chaz Mostert set the record for the fastest lap at the Bathurst 1000 in 2021 with a time of 2:03.3736 seconds. This lap was set during the Top 10 Shootout qualifier at Mount Panorama

Jun 18

by darren in Crash 0 comments tags: Austrian, Moto2

Terrifying Moto2 Crash 2020 during the Austrian Grand Prix

The 2020 Austrian Moto2 race was red-flagged on lap four after championship leader Enea Bastianini crashed exiting the first corner, with Aspar rider Syahrin hitting the stricken Italtrans bike.