Kimi to NASCAR

[MJ_N_09]

UPDATE 2: Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 Formula One world champion, has requested and received approval to run in a Nascar Camping World Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20, said Amanda Jones Ellis, a spokeswoman for the series.(NYTimes.com)(3-30-2011)

-From Jayski

[kurski]

Raikkonen busy NASCAR race in Helsinki

Helsinki NASCAR race be driven street circuit

The event is scheduled for the first time in the summer of 2012. The event is arranged in Räikkönen ICE-1 Racing team and the sponsor would be coming to an American known as April Fool cider brand, which aims to increase its market share in Europe.

NASCAR event to be held in the ex-star drivers in a race where the NASCAR truck race in Helsinki on the track for example. Nigel Mansell, Timo Salonen, Alain Prost, Stig Blomqvist, Simo Lampinen and Derek Warwick. NASCAR event held in Helsinki on the music festival, which envisages a headlining Shakira.

Raikkonen has so far refused to comment on the NASCAR race rumor.

[Axeman444]

April Fool Cider hey...??

[kurski]

Originally Posted by Axeman444

April Fool Cider hey...??

April Fools Day joke.

[Axeman444]

would never have guessed!

[HJJ]

Hey F.O.D., do you have plans on Monday!

Raikkonen to test truck next week

By Diego Mejia Friday, April 1st 2011, 16:33 GMT


Kimi Raikkonen is set to have his maiden stock car test next week, driving for NASCAR star Kyle Busch, who fields a leading outfit in the Truck Series.

AUTOSPORT has learned that the former Formula 1 world champion is set to drive a Toyota Tundra for the multiple NASCAR race winner and former Nationwide Series champion, who has fielded the #18 Truck entry since 2010.

Team officials confirmed contact with Raikkonen and also a test being set for Monday at Gresham Motorsports Park, a half-mile track in Jefferson, Georgia, where the former Ferrari and McLaren racer will get his first taste of an oval. Kyle Busch currently holds the NASCAR track record at the venue, set in testing last October.

Kyle Busch Motorsports has won two out of the three Truck races run this year, with Busch taking victory at Phoenix, while Kasey Kahne drove to victory lane in the #18 truck at Darlington. The outfit currently leads the owners' standings, which counts points scored by each truck, regardless of the driver.

"I think that some of these guys from the Formula 1, or from the open wheel background I should say, trying to take a step in NASCAR and see how it is, is pretty neat," said Busch when asked by AUTOSPORT about the prospect of having Raikkonen race in the Truck Series.

"It kind of gives a world presence to NASCAR. Everybody thinks that Formula 1 is the world series... I think that NASCAR, as big as it is, a lot of drivers want to see how they can do over here and how they can have a feel for the racecar over here.

"I think it's neat and I hope that he gets the things worked out that he wants worked out and that he can come over here and run some Trucks or run whatever he is going to run."

Raikkonen is expected to enter a truck race next month at Charlotte, taking a different path to other former open-wheel drivers who made their transition into the heavier stock cars. Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Speed and Nelson Piquet first competed on a superspeedway, where handling has a smaller role on performance than at Charlotte.

Busch believes however that the race at the 1.5-mile oval on May 20 probably fits Raikkonen's World Rally Championship schedule better.

"I reckon most teams are from around Charlotte so it's probably easier for him to get there," said Busch. "Probably a cheaper route for them to start out in having him as a first race.

"I think most of it has probably got to do with his schedule and what he can do around his rally stuff. I don't know how busy those guys are, I don't pay attention to the rally schedule all that much but maybe that's his only opportunity. I don't know."

The Charlotte event falls in a gap between the WRC's Sardinia and Argentina rounds, taking place a week before the latter.

Raikkonen is expected be the first Finnish driver to compete in NASCAR. His countryman and former F1 racer Mika Salo tested a Sprint Cup car in 2009 but has not been able to get a race drive.

I should also note that it was Kyle Busch that was trying to get Tony Kanan to drive his truck before he got a ride with KV Racing.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by HJJ

Hey F.O.D., do you have plans on Monday!

I have Jury Duty, unfortunately and would think that it wouldn't be open to the public. Would be very cool to see one of his first tests though. I am sure GMP is being flooded with calls about an F1 World Champ testing there.

What a great way to get the Fin to get acclimated with NASCAR! Send him to Jefferson, Georiga! He'll probably fly into the airport across the street and not see much of the culture.

Good stuff, HJJ!

[HJJ]

Just think, he could do Gresham and Lainer in one day! I just called and they said that anyone can watch the test, you just can't go down into the pits. Sure you can't skip jury duty?

[fieldodreams79]

Skipping it would be just one more thing on my record. I'll send you a PM.

[MJ_N_09]

I guess we can't hate Busch anymore, because Kimi will drive for him:

UPDATE 4: Former F1 Champion Raikkonen to drive limited schedule for KBM: Kyle Busch Motorsports announced today that they have signed former Formula 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen to drive a limited schedule in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series during the 2011 season. Raikkonen is scheduled to make his NASCAR debut as a teammate to owner Kyle Busch in the N.C. Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20. Raikkonen comes to NASCAR with a resume that includes the 2007 Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship. Over his nine year career in Formula 1, the Finnish driver registered 18 wins and 62 podium finishes. The 31-year old is currently competing for a World Rally Car Championship for his own team, ICE 1 Racing. Details of sponsorship and a schedule of races that Raikkonen will compete in will be released at a later date.(Kyle Busch Motorsports PR)(4-2-2011)

[fieldodreams79]

Saw a bit of his first test in a NASCAR truck this morning, from the entrance road of Gresham MP (thanks to some media showing, they closed the session to the public). Best we could gather, Kyle Busch shuck the truck down and then they ran Kimi in it. Obviously, in his first go, he was noticeably slower. After two stints of less than a dozen laps or so, a pizza delivery man showed shortly after a Budweiser delivery van. Guess Kimi was hungry and thirsty.

Couldn't see much, but got to meet and chat with Dan Elliott for a bit. Nice to meet HJJ, as well!

(Two threads in two separate sub-forums is a bit annoying, but probably just.)

[HJJ]

What Field said.

Looking forward to getting together at the Mitty!

[dirtymacca]

It will be interesting to see Kimi's bubbling personality shining through during pre and post race interviews!

[rustyfan]

Kimi's first test is now complete and it sounds like it was a pretty positive one. Autosport reports:

Kimi Raikkonen successfully completed a two-day NASCAR Truck test on Monday and Tuesday at the half-mile Gresham Motorsports Park oval.

--//--

According to the sources the test was very successful and Raikkonen set some impressive laptimes, apparently completing their plan for the two days of running.

Source: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90464

[Paradise City]

Originally Posted by dirtymacca

It will be interesting to see Kimi's bubbling personality shining through during pre and post race interviews!

That'll be the most fascinating part of this meeting between the two worlds. Seriously. How will the iceberg handle all the showbiz?

[fieldodreams79]

I don't think it'll matter too much at first how Kimi does with NASCAR PR. He is running a very limited schedule this year and won't be around too much, due to his WRC schedule.

Originally Posted by rustyfan

Kimi's first test is now complete and it sounds like it was a pretty positive one. Autosport reports:

Source: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90464

A Monday night interview with Rick Ren, KyleBusch Motorsports director, on the NASCAR Hub (or whatever it's called) made it appear that he was impressive for his first time out.

[MJ_N_09]

Sponsorship:

UPDATE 6: Perky Jerky the ultra-premium jerky flavored with a hint of guarana that's quickly gaining fame around the world, announced today its sponsorship of former Formula One World Champion and current World Rally competitor, Kimi Räikkönen. The relationship is set to launch alongside Räikkönen's NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series on May 20th. In 2011, Räikkönen will sport the Perky Jerky livery in NASCAR through IceOne Racing, Räikkönen's motorsport outfit.(PerkyJerky.com)(4-6-2011)

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

UPDATE 6: Perky Jerky the ultra-premium jerky flavored with a hint of guarana ...

That sounds kinda gross and slightly perverse.

[JHamilton]

Kenny Ray O'Neal

[bjohnsonsmith]

Kenny Ry Cooder

[HJJ]

Kenny Raccoon. With a couple of umlauts over the "o's".

[gttouring]

50 lap test at rockingham, VA no wrecks and "he can drive" is the assessment.
go Kimi.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by gttouring

50 lap test at rockingham, VA no wrecks and "he can drive" is the assessment.
go Kimi.

Go Kimi indeed, but that would Rockingham North Carolina, someplace the Cup series should be racing. And not the easiest of places to get around quickly either.

[Senninha24]

Yea i'm terribly excited to see how this whole deal is going to work out. I really want to see Kimi mixing it up there as one of the successes from the converts.

I don't think ive heard such rave reviews for a newcomer in ages...
Cant wait for the Charlotte truck race! I really hope Kimi kills it!

[MJ_N_09]

He's talking Cup now.

UPDATE: With former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen preparing for his Camping World Truck Series debut with Kyle Busch Motorsports, it would seem the natural progression to Nationwide and Sprint Cup would be with Joe Gibbs Racing, the team that fields cars for Busch in those series. But JGR President J.D. Gibbs said it would be hard for his organization to run a fourth car in either series and it would be more likely that JGR could provide equipment for Busch, and allow him to field the team himself through his KBM effort.(Scene Daily)(4-9-2011)