NASCAR: 5 Cup drivers who could race the Indy 500
By Randy Smith
NASCAR candidates for Indy 500: No. 3 – Kyle Busch
“Anything you can do, I can do better” may be the best quote to describe the Busch brothers. While family at the end of the day, both Kurt and Kyle have shown that their competitiveness can get the best of them in racing.
The 2007 All-Star Race remains a story often discussed. Both Kurt and Kyle Busch collided on the track, and even last year when Kurt won at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the duo found themselves competing for a win. Kurt ultimately had help from then-Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Ross Chastain, which resulted in him getting around his younger brother to win.
But a desire from one Busch brother to “outdo” the other isn’t the driving factor into Kyle’s quest for a bid in the Indy 500. That interest comes from the 37-year-old himself. Busch has told Beyond the Flag on multiple occasions that his interest remains in racing not only in IndyCar, but specifically in the Indy 500.
Manufacturer concerns may be one of the top concerns for Kyle to compete in the race, however, as Busch’s NASCAR manufacturer, Toyota, sees global rival Honda flourishing in IndyCar.
Chevrolet would remain an option, but they also serve as a manufacturer which Busch looks to beat in every NASCAR race he runs. He has not driven for them since leaving Hendrick Motorsports after 2007.
But with an unknown future, even on the NASCAR side, Kyle could find himself in a position to have a wide open road in regard to running the Indy 500 in 2023 and beyond.