Kimi Raikkonen to NASCAR???

[DanielPT]

At least we know why Kimi Raikkonen isn't back in F1 -- because the FIA wouldn't let that car race!

Indeed. The rear wing is mounted too low and it is wider than the regulations!

[Phoenix]

On a realistic note, he won't do that much. On a more distended note, GO KIMI!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cynon]

Kimi Raikkonen will drive a truck for Kyle Busch Motorsports -- basically the best team in the series -- when he makes his NASCAR debut.

http://www.nascar.com/news/110402/kraik ... index.html

[watka]

I know I've been away from the forum for about a week, but how have I not heard about all of this!

Can't wait to see Kimi blow the NASCAR world away.

[Vepe]

According to the New York Times, Kimi has consulted with, and been granted permission from, Nascar officials to enter the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
If I'm interpreting this right, this makes it official.
Raikkonen to NASCAR.
Wow.

MFW the Nascar commentators try to interview him, and he responds in Raikkonese.

That is a surprise - I'd been willing to write the initial story off as just a silly rumour, but the fact that the New York Times has reported the story seems to suggest that it really is true. OK, it'd be in addition to his rallying career, and fit around the WRC, it seems, but I'd have thought that he would have been too busy dealing with that series to start racing in another one.

I wonder if, he takes a shine to racing in the US, he'll go for that IRL race with the $5 million prize?

It says here that he´s interested in it: http://www.mtv3.fi/urheilu/ralli/uutise ... aastattelu

And for those who don´t speak finnish, here´s a translation:

The huge money prize of the season finale of the North American IndyCar series is in the intrests of Räikkönen.

- It´s an interesting option. Although I must closely watch what kind of an equipment I´d get. It depends on many things, Räikkönen said to MTV3 during the Portuguese rally.

[Myrvold]

Kimi Raikkonen will drive a truck for Kyle Busch Motorsports -- basically the best team in the series -- when he makes his NASCAR debut.

http://www.nascar.com/news/110402/kraik ... index.html

As long as he doesn't learn from Kyle...

[DanielPT]

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

It seems the test was very successful for Raikkonen. Was it like that because he managed not to bin it?

Now, more seriously, NASCAR might be more suited to Kimi than rallying. Looking at the current crop of NASCAR racing drivers, one get the idea that they just need to show up and drive (this is also based in that amazing movie called Days of Thunder. What a movie! ), which is a Kimi speciality.

[Phoenix]

Probably what Kimi was looking for was to be able to drink Coke and eat a Magnum ice-cream while driving, something that couldn't do either at F1 or WRC

[madmark1974]

Surely one of the things Kimi disliked about F1 was the whole media circus, unwanted attention, that kind of thing.

OK so the truck series may not get that much attention, but if he progresses to Nationwide or above, this is USA Sport we're talking about, there's basically a microphone and reporter in your
face as soon as you turn up, and as soon as you get out of the car whether you've done good or bad, and you have to please the sponsors by mentioning them all everytime, etc. I can't see
him liking it at all, how is it in any way an improvement over F1, where ironically he probably could have gone to Renault, and suddenly there then happened to be a spare seat to fill?

Maybe he's still looking for a new personal challenge, but I can't see how he'd want to go full time with this ...

[Belegur]

I'd think that at least a basic level, Kimi is a competitive man. You don't get to be F1 World Champion while not really caring, after all. Every time I see results for a rally round, he's around 9th or 10th. Could it just be that he's looking for another type of racing that he can potentially win (in addition to being well paid for his efforts)?

[Phoenix]

I'd think that at least a basic level, Kimi is a competitive man. You don't get to be F1 World Champion while not really caring, after all. Every time I see results for a rally round, he's around 9th or 10th. Could it just be that he's looking for another type of racing that he can potentially win (in addition to being well paid for his efforts)?

I take your theory, but assuming he becomes successful in this, the question is when he'll grow tired of it.

[Glennerz]

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/256620/raikkonen-completes-two-day-truck-test/

[Yannick]

Do you think that Kubica's accident has had an influence in Kimi deciding to enter a SAFER (barrier) series? Or is he just preparing himself for the 5 million IndyCar offers motorsports stars from other series at their season finale? This test were his first laps on an oval, wasn't it?

It would be epic if he won the 5 million and then retired from the sport.

[DanielPT]

Or is he just preparing himself for the 5 million IndyCar offers motorsports stars from other series at their season finale? This test were his first laps on an oval, wasn't it?

It would be epic if he won the 5 million and then retired from the sport.

That actually makes some sense. I would love to Kimi participate in that race. And win it. While eating an Ice cream. And this.

[F1000X]

Do you think that Kubica's accident has had an influence in Kimi deciding to enter a SAFER (barrier) series?

Absolutely.

Or is he just preparing himself for the 5 million IndyCar offers motorsports stars from other series at their season finale?

God I hope so. What are the stipulations for that contest? Can Raikkonen compete in a couple oval races before the finale to get acclimated to the car?

It would be epic if he won the 5 million and then retired from the sport.

That would certainly be a good way to end his career. I really want to see him back in an F1 car though. I honestly don't think Raikkonen could beat Vettel head to head at this point, maybe even Hamilton, but I'd certainly like to see him prove me wrong. Kimi was my favorite driver when I started watching F1 in 2002, and I was heartbroken when he went to Ferrari. I think if he ever chose return, he wouldn't have a hard time grabbing the second seat at Redbull once Webber retires.

[whatisdeletrazdoing]

The last person in the world that I would expect to join NASCAR has recently joined NASCAR.

http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/trucks-nascar-approves-ex-f1-champ-raikkonen-for-charlotte/

http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/trucks-kimi-raikkonen-in-nascar-kbm-truck/

[Phoenix]

About the second article, correct me if I am wrong, but the trucks are built by the manufacturers and then tuned and maintained by the team, right?

[rdbextreme]

This piece of news is actually true. He's teamed up with Kyle Busch's NASCAR Truck series program. NASCAR seems to be where a lot of accomplished drivers are looking after a career in F1 (Juan Montoya, Nelson Piquet Jr. [not that he's accomplished though]) or even Indy Car (Sam Hornish Jr., Dario Franchitti [he sucked at it though], Eric Almirola, and even Marcus Ambrose. So Kimi moving to NASCAR is certainly a new challenge and something very different from what he's used to... and that seems to be the lure for many drivers.

[Cynon]

About the second article, correct me if I am wrong, but the trucks are built by the manufacturers and then tuned and maintained by the team, right?

Not exactly. A good deal of the parts are standard, but the ones that aren't are free for the teams to tinker with. The problem there is that if you're... say, a quarter of a second off the pace, you're not going to have a shot at the lead.

NASCAR (especially on intermediate cookie cutter ovals) these days is a lot like endurance racing, it doesn't require drivers to use the full extent of their talent, but rather let the car win the race for them.

[Shizuka]

He's teamed up with Kyle Busch's NASCAR Truck series program.

BUT HE'S AN ASS!!!
Anyway, let's hope he can pull off some nice results here too.

[tommykl]

This piece of news is actually true. He's teamed up with Kyle Busch's NASCAR Truck series program. NASCAR seems to be where a lot of accomplished drivers are looking after a career in F1 (Juan Montoya, Nelson Piquet Jr. [not that he's accomplished though]) or even Indy Car (Sam Hornish Jr., Dario Franchitti [he sucked at it though], Eric Almirola, and even Marcus Ambrose. So Kimi moving to NASCAR is certainly a new challenge and something very different from what he's used to... and that seems to be the lure for many drivers.

Well, for now, Piquet is currently 17th in the Truck Series, and is the only non-American driver to have ever scored a top-two finish in the Truck Series. Montoya is still reasonably successful in the Cup Series, and in my opinion will take his first oval win this season.

Oh, and it's Aric Almirola.

[the Masked Lapwing]

This piece of news is actually true. He's teamed up with Kyle Busch's NASCAR Truck series program. NASCAR seems to be where a lot of accomplished drivers are looking after a career in F1 (Juan Montoya, Nelson Piquet Jr. [not that he's accomplished though]) or even Indy Car (Sam Hornish Jr., Dario Franchitti [he sucked at it though], Eric Almirola, and even Marcus Ambrose. So Kimi moving to NASCAR is certainly a new challenge and something very different from what he's used to... and that seems to be the lure for many drivers.

Well, for now, Piquet is currently 17th in the Truck Series, and is the only non-American driver to have ever scored a top-two finish in the Truck Series. Montoya is still reasonably successful in the Cup Series, and in my opinion will take his first oval win this season.

Oh, and it's Aric Almirola.

And Marcos Ambrose. Who never drove in IndyCar. But at least he's Aussie (makes up for the fact he drives a Ford )

[Henrique]

BUT HE'S AN ASS!!!

Indeed.
There's a video of him showing the middle finger to an official. Raikkonen has too much class to take orders from this guy.

[Cynon]

BUT HE'S AN ASS!!!

The amusing part is that Montoya gave Keselowski the idea to say that Kyle Busch is an ass...

[rdbextreme]

The thing is, I think that if Kimi doesn't find good results within his first season or so, he may wash out of the NASCAR program. Look at Franchitti. Not that he's a bad driver at all, but the frustration of not being able to adapt to such a different format and car is a killer to someone who is used to winning. Not winning or getting good results when you expect to can be a deal breaker for many.

[F1000X]

The thing is, I think that if Kimi doesn't find good results within his first season or so, he may wash out of the NASCAR program. Look at Franchitti. Not that he's a bad driver at all, but the frustration of not being able to adapt to such a different format and car is a killer to someone who is used to winning. Not winning or getting good results when you expect to can be a deal breaker for many.

I don't think anyone should be betting against Kimi Raikonnen right now, not until we see what happens in Charlotte.

[DanielPT]

The thing is, I think that if Kimi doesn't find good results within his first season or so, he may wash out of the NASCAR program. Look at Franchitti. Not that he's a bad driver at all, but the frustration of not being able to adapt to such a different format and car is a killer to someone who is used to winning. Not winning or getting good results when you expect to can be a deal breaker for many.

I don't think anyone should be betting against Kimi Raikonnen right now, not until we see what happens in Charlotte.

rbdextreme may have a point here. Could it be that the idea of changing to NASCAR came from the fact that Kimi results in WRC are less than stellar? He might just give it a try in order to see if its easier for him returning to the top...

[Cynon]

Just imagine the international press that would give NASCAR -- if Kimi Raikkonen dropped out of NASCAR because he wasn't performing well. I think Raikkonen is absolutely thinking that it should be a breeze for him to return to the top, and ... to be honest, if he doesn't win eventually driving the Kyle Busch Motorsports truck, something's wrong, because that truck is miles faster than the rest of the field.

[Waris]

You know what I would like to see? Kimi Räikkönen driving the Indy 500. Also, one of those V8 Supercars races as a guest driver (or even Bathurst). Actually, he should also drive Daytona and Le Mans and... and... he should just become the new Graham Hill!

[mediocre]

http://jalopnik.com/5806620/the-ten-fun ... ries-debut

[LionZoo]

http://jalopnik.com/5806620/the-ten-funniest-things-kimi-raikkonen-said-in-his-nascar-nationwide-series-debut

Kimi certainly would complain about not having enough to drink. Are we sure they put water in the bottle?

(By the way, the Chinese commentary joked about Kimi during the Monaco red flag period.)

[Salamander]

"We're so bathplug shite, it's unbelievable."

That is the best quote. Ever. Of all time.

[Row Man Gross-Gene]

Thanks Mediocre for making me laugh out loud at work! I'm sure others think I'm losing my marbles.

BTW, my favorite comment below the the story:

Trackside Announcer: "Kimi, what happened out there?"

Kimi: "The number 87 Perky Jerky Toyota Camry it cannot turn because it have no water."

Trackside Announcer: "You were experiencing radiator trouble?"

Kimi: "Wait. What?"

Trackside Announcer: "Do you think you'll be able to improve on your finish next race?"

Kimi: "No. My Finnish is fine, I am from Finland. Do you have any water?"

[Phoenix]

Thanks Mediocre for making me laugh out loud at work! I'm sure others think I'm losing my marbles.

BTW, my favorite comment below the the story:

Trackside Announcer: "Kimi, what happened out there?"

Kimi: "The number 87 Perky Jerky Toyota Camry it cannot turn because it have no water."

Trackside Announcer: "You were experiencing radiator trouble?"

Kimi: "Wait. What?"

Trackside Announcer: "Do you think you'll be able to improve on your finish next race?"

Kimi: "No. My Finnish is fine, I am from Finland. Do you have any water?"

That dialogue did happen or did you make it up?

[Row Man Gross-Gene]

I think it was made up by the commenter who posted it below the linked article. I just thought it was clever.