Kimi Raikkonen will return to racing later this year in a one-off appearance in NASCAR’s top-flight Cup series.
The 2007 Formula 1 world champion will drive a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Team Trackhouse in the 25th round of the championship at Watkins Glen.Trackhouse is courting drivers from outside NASCAR as part of an entry known as Project 91. Raikkonen will join the team’s regular drivers Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez for the race on August 21st.
Raikkonen is not a newcomer to stock car racing. During his two-year break from F1 between 2010 and 2012, he appeared in NASCAR’s second-tier series and its Trucks category, achieving a best finish of 15th at the latter. Both races took place on the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval.
Watkins Glen, the former F1 circuit in New York State, is one of a growing number of road courses on the predominantly oval-based NASCAR schedule. NASCAR uses the shorter, eight-turn 3.9-kilometre layout compared to the 11-turn course F1 last raced on in 1980.
Raikkonen made his F1 debut in 2001 and retired at the end of last season after making a record 349 starts. His successor as F1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton, drove a Chevrolet Impala NASCAR in a demonstration event at Watkins Glen in 2011, the same year Raikkonen made his two previous appearances.
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Jere (@jerejj)
26th May 2022, 16:05
I never envisioned him reappearing in Nascar someday.
DaveW (@dmw)
26th May 2022, 17:06
He raced nascar pickup trucks during his F1 sabbatical. I guess he didn’t get it out of his system.
UNeedAFinn2Win (@uneedafinn2win)
26th May 2022, 17:39
I see Viasat carries NASCAR in the Nordics, who knew…
I guess I have no excuse not to watch this then
NS Biker (@rekibsn)
26th May 2022, 18:54
August 21, already marked on the calendar.
Should be fun to watch. His off-road background will help.
Clay (@clayt)
26th May 2022, 18:54
Hope they let him use his old steering wheel. *g*
https://i.postimg.cc/15rFbfgm/Kimi-steering-wheel.jpg
amian
26th May 2022, 19:13
I want Kimi in Indianapolis 500 !!!!! Come on Kimi!!! If do a one-off, do the best one!
HUHHII (@huhhii)
26th May 2022, 20:40
Of course this is a fantastic news to all of us. F1 has become super dull after the fastest man on Earth left the sport but now we have a new pinnacle of motorsport!
So what do you think @todfod how much Alonso’s deficit to Kimi would be at Watkins Glen? Considering Kimi was around 1.0-1.5s per lap faster than Alonso in F1 maybe a deficit to 2.5-3.0 would be a fair estimate?
kpcart
27th May 2022, 10:01
Kimi has always been a slower driver in F1 than Alonso. I predict he will qualify no better than 20th. NASCAR is a super competitive sport. Remember Montoya in NASCAR? Having F1 experience counts for nothing in NASCAR. Raikonnens first 2 races in NASCAR were a disaster, he jumped in the deep end and was a danger to the other drivers. Villeneuve i
DaveW (@dmw)
27th May 2022, 12:58
Montoya has two wins and 4 top 5s at nascar road course events.
Todfod (@todfod)
26th May 2022, 22:46
@huhhii
Great to have you back you nut job.
I knew a kimi article would find you.
Look forward to seeing kimi accomplish nothing in his next endeavor, just like he did in f1
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
27th May 2022, 9:24
I like raikkonen and I like hearing he’s gonna be involved in more racing, but I see no basis for the 1-1,5 sec faster than alonso, although I feel like alonso might be showing signs of decline as well this year.
erix
27th May 2022, 11:56
Kimi has 1 trophy, 1 son, and 1 daughter.
HUHHII (@huhhii)
27th May 2022, 18:53
@todfod Just for the old time’s sake. Happy to see you’re still around. Enjoy the F1 season. Cheers!