Former Formula 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen all set to make NASCAR debut
The 2007 Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen is all set to make his debut for NASCAR.
The Finnish driver has said that he is looking forward to becoming more familiar with the world of NASCAR as he gets ready for an American series in a few months’ time.
“I know that it's a very tough and open series, but it will be great fun for me. I love the American spirit of racing and it feels great to get involved in that,” said Kimi.
This story was broken by a Finnish newspaper two days ago, which said that Kimi would make his debut in NASCAR in 2011. Later on, it was revealed that Kimi’s application to debut in the truck series at Charlotte which is expected to take place on 20 May,
2011, has been approved as well.
Apart from that, the 1997 Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has warned that NASCAR might not suite Kimi perfectly.
“I think the driving won't be a problem for him. His biggest challenge will be off the race track. He'll need to open up socially. NASCAR is not a closed environment like F1 is. You need to respect the other drivers and socialize,” said Villeneuve.
Speed TV’s Formula 1 anchor Bob Varsha endorsed Villeneuve’s statement. He said that the news mentioning Kimi becoming a part of NASCAR might be a ‘joke’ since Raikkonen admitted two years back that he is not one of the biggest fans of NASCAR.
He stated that he personally thought that it was an April fool’s joke as he finds it terribly ‘implausible.’ Other than that, Varsha stated that NASCAR drivers are ‘extroverted and gregarious.’
“That's the reason he got out of Formula One ... because he hated the pressure of having to deal with the press,” he added.
Kimi left Formula 1 after the 2009 season ended and with his latest move, it seems unlikely that he will return to the sport any time soon.
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