SVG secures San Diego pole position with scrappy lap

The Trackhouse Racing driver put together a scrappy lap, twice hitting the wall on his way to top spot in the split qualifying session.

It’s his second pole position of the season after taking out top spot at Watkins Glen.

Van Gisbergen said he was “a little bit” surprised to score pole position.

“I thought the track would be better and I thought people would execute a bit better,” he explained.

“But, as I said, it’s just so difficult. There are three of four corners that we’re seeing for the first time of the day and it’s on your heater. So, amazing.

“I guess the Red Bull Chevy is really good. Thank you to Trackhouse for doing a great job from yesterday and just need to get the driver better.”

Van Gisbergen said he made a meal of his lap.

“Amazing to get the first pole here,” van Gisbergen said.

“I’ve said it a couple of times. It’s your first lap of the day and there are three, four, five corners you’re probably going through for the first time of the day as your qualifying lap starts.

“I made a meal of it, but I guess the rest of the lap was pretty decent and made the time back.

“I’m sure everybody has the same story that there’s a lot of time left. Cool to make the least mistakes, I guess.”

Van Gisbergen continued to downplay his status as the favourite, despite his record on street circuits and road courses.

He pinpointed Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson as well as Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing) and Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) as having better long-run speed.

“My long runs weren’t that great yesterday,’’ he added,

“My car is better today than yesterday, so who knows. We’re definitely in a good place to start and tomorrow will be a bit of a gamble and a lottery with the tyres.

“It’s going to be hard for the crew chiefs and strategists to get it right tomorrow, for sure.”

Van Gisbergen will be joined on the front row by Carson Hocevar in the #77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro.

Ryan Blaney will line up third for Team Penske in the #12 Ford while Front Row Motorsports’ Zane Smith starts fourth in the #38 Mustang.

Van Gisbergen was streaks ahead of his Trackhouse Racing teammates. Connor Zilisch was more than a second slower in eighth while Ross Chastain was only 23rd.

Project91 driver Kavin Magnussen was 21st.

The NASCAR Cup Series Anduril Race the Base 250 gets underway on Monday, June 22 at 6am AEST.

Results: NASCAR Cup Series Anduril Race the Base Qualifying, Naval Base Coronado