by Bert Beiswanger
A few days ago, I wrote a piece praising the excitement in the IZOD IndyCar Series right now and the refreshing new storylines heading into the Month of May and the 2013 Indy 500: Hinchcliffe Puts the Hammer Down Heading to Indy
One exciting thing I didn’t touch on is the fact that 2004 Sprint Cup Champion Kurt Busch is testing today with Andretti Autosport at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The plan, as Busch has discussed, is to take things one step at a time. He’s stated that this is the first step of what could be a 13 month process that lands him a shot at qualifying for the “500” in 2014.
The rumor mill has been heating up the past few days that this could be more than just a friendly test. There’s nothing as of right now to indicate that it is more than just a test.
Regardless of the outcome, this is great for all parties involved. Busch is fulfilling a dream that so few racers get to these days – cross over to another form of motorsports and, specifically for NASCAR drivers, drive an Indycar at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As for the “500” and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, what a great way to kick off the month. It’s outstanding publicity and only adds to the excitement.
“This is big time to have Andretti give you a call in the Month of May,” said Busch. “This is a dream come true and a unique opportunity in the world of motorsports. I even brought my dad to take it all in.
“With the Andretti legacy at the Speedway, bringing Dad along, the history of the facility, it ties it all together. Let’s go to the track, go through this experience together and see what it turns into.”
You can get the details of the test via a 2 p.m. press conference on indycar.com