#78-Kurt Busch tested an IndyCar at the Brickyard in May, and has a clear interest in potentially competing in the Indianapolis 500. That curiosity was further piqued Saturday, when he stood down in Indys canyon of a frontstretch before qualifying sixth for the 20th edition of the NASCAR event at the 104-year-old track. ‘I can honestly say, standing out on the grid ready to qualify, that our qualifying is a lot less nerve-wracking than it would be to be ready for a full day, four laps at a time, and putting an open-wheel car on the grid’ Busch said. ‘I was trying to chew on some of those emotions. That way, if I do come back in the month of May, I can chew on them and not be so nervous.” On May 9, Busch took part in an IndyCar rookie test on the 2.5-mile speedway and passed it by turning a speed of 218.210 mph. Although neither the driver nor Andretti Autosport, the open-wheel team that supplied a vehicle for the test, were prepared to make a run at this years Indy 500, Busch is clearly intrigued by the idea. ‘Its something you want to do as a dream’ Busch said. ‘Sometimes you have to throw away common sense when you have a dream, and to go and do it. Well see if it turns out. A lot of guys would love to do it, but theres that 600-mile race youve got to do that same night. So thats the big focus for a stock-car guy.” Busch recently had a 45-minute telephone conversation with former Penske Racing teammate Sam Hornish Jr., an IndyCar and Indianapolis 500 champion who made the jump full-time to NASCAR in 2008. Hornish came away from that discussion believing that Busch would attempt the Indy 500 eventually.( NASCAR.com )
