Publications
Partners
CONCORD, North Carolina - Kimi Raikkonen made a few mistakes before finishing a respectable 15th in his Nascar Trucks Series debut at the Charlotte Speedway. By trucks, they mean big, mean bakkies...
The ex-Formula 1 World champion slapped a wall on the second lap, wasn't sure of the rules for passing on his first restart, and missed a call into the pits from his crew, but showed signs of his racing pedigree on a new stage.
"You'd rather be higher up," Raikkonen said of his finish, “but how it felt this morning, and qualifying, I am pretty pleased how it was in a race. For sure, there is still a lot to learn and improve."
Where and when he'll continue his learning process remains to be seen.
NATURAL PROGRESSION
Raikkonen hasn’t announced any more races but alluded earlier on Friday to the following week's Nationwide Series event at Charlotte and later getting into the elite Sprint Cup Series. Asked directly if he'd be there next week, the phlegmatic Finn said only: "We'll see - it's quite far away to come from Europe."
There's no point in Raikkonen continuing in Trucks if he's got any real interest in the top tier of Nascar. The natural progression would be a race or two in Nationwide before trying to get into some Sprint Cup events.
But Raikkonen said he'd not yet been in a stock car and his only experience before Friday was two test sessions in a Kyle Busch Motorsports truck. Busch, winner of Friday's race, said he had car at his shop and details could be announced soon on a Raikkonen race.
Raikkonen spent nine years in F1, driving for Sauber, McLaren and Ferrari. He won 18 times, had 62 podium finishes and won the 2007 championship for the Italian team. He's currently racing in the World Rally championship with his own team, ICE 1 Racing, and is eighth in the standings
He's not scheduled to compete again in that series until June in Greece.
HELPFUL SLIDE?
Busch, who spent time tutoring Raikkonen between Friday's practice sessions, went on to win the race and played a part in Raikkonen's finish. Because Raikkonen missed the first call into the pits, he was going to have to make his stop under green but a spin by Busch while in the lead brought out the caution and allowed Raikkonen to pit under yellow.
Busch said he was unaware of Raikkonen's situation. "You'll say I'm lying anyway," he smiled.
The race was marred by 10 cautions, which Raikkonen said slowed his rhythm. Busch also regretted how it affected a race that had international interest.
"I hate the way it looked with it broadcast in so many countries for Kimi's debut," Busch said.
The pairing of Busch and Raikkonen happened in March when an agent called officials at KBM to see if it could field a truck for somebody else this season. The agent would not name the driver so KBM officials could do nothing more than go over the costs that would need to be covered to field another entry.
PLANS UNDER SPECULATION
Representatives for Raikkonen called back later, revealed it was the Finn who wanted a seat, and asked for a ride at Charlotte. It took some negotiating for Busch to make Charlotte happen but Raikkonen was in his No.15 on Friday night.
Raikkonen's 2012 plans are the subject of much speculation. Will he stay in rallying, move to Nascar - or even make a return to F1?
"I don't have big plans,” he said. “I don't have any plans for next year or anything of what I do. I see how it is because I didn't have any expectations when I came here. It's a bit like when I went to rallying - I didn't have much expectation, I wanted to see how it was.
"It's the same story here,’ he added. “For sure, it's a different sport. Different type of racing to what we have in Europe. It's very popular here and maybe it looks easy but it's not so easy to be fast.
“We'll see how it goes and what the future brings. We go step by step and see what happens."
The ex-Formula 1 World champion slapped a wall on the second lap, wasn't sure of the rules for passing on his first restart, and missed a call into the pits from his crew, but showed signs of his racing pedigree on a new stage.
"You'd rather be higher up," Raikkonen said of his finish, “but how it felt this morning, and qualifying, I am pretty pleased how it was in a race. For sure, there is still a lot to learn and improve."
Where and when he'll continue his learning process remains to be seen.
NATURAL PROGRESSION
Raikkonen hasn’t announced any more races but alluded earlier on Friday to the following week's Nationwide Series event at Charlotte and later getting into the elite Sprint Cup Series. Asked directly if he'd be there next week, the phlegmatic Finn said only: "We'll see - it's quite far away to come from Europe."
There's no point in Raikkonen continuing in Trucks if he's got any real interest in the top tier of Nascar. The natural progression would be a race or two in Nationwide before trying to get into some Sprint Cup events.
But Raikkonen said he'd not yet been in a stock car and his only experience before Friday was two test sessions in a Kyle Busch Motorsports truck. Busch, winner of Friday's race, said he had car at his shop and details could be announced soon on a Raikkonen race.
Raikkonen spent nine years in F1, driving for Sauber, McLaren and Ferrari. He won 18 times, had 62 podium finishes and won the 2007 championship for the Italian team. He's currently racing in the World Rally championship with his own team, ICE 1 Racing, and is eighth in the standings
He's not scheduled to compete again in that series until June in Greece.
HELPFUL SLIDE?
Busch, who spent time tutoring Raikkonen between Friday's practice sessions, went on to win the race and played a part in Raikkonen's finish. Because Raikkonen missed the first call into the pits, he was going to have to make his stop under green but a spin by Busch while in the lead brought out the caution and allowed Raikkonen to pit under yellow.
Busch said he was unaware of Raikkonen's situation. "You'll say I'm lying anyway," he smiled.
The race was marred by 10 cautions, which Raikkonen said slowed his rhythm. Busch also regretted how it affected a race that had international interest.
"I hate the way it looked with it broadcast in so many countries for Kimi's debut," Busch said.
The pairing of Busch and Raikkonen happened in March when an agent called officials at KBM to see if it could field a truck for somebody else this season. The agent would not name the driver so KBM officials could do nothing more than go over the costs that would need to be covered to field another entry.
PLANS UNDER SPECULATION
Representatives for Raikkonen called back later, revealed it was the Finn who wanted a seat, and asked for a ride at Charlotte. It took some negotiating for Busch to make Charlotte happen but Raikkonen was in his No.15 on Friday night.
Raikkonen's 2012 plans are the subject of much speculation. Will he stay in rallying, move to Nascar - or even make a return to F1?
"I don't have big plans,” he said. “I don't have any plans for next year or anything of what I do. I see how it is because I didn't have any expectations when I came here. It's a bit like when I went to rallying - I didn't have much expectation, I wanted to see how it was.
"It's the same story here,’ he added. “For sure, it's a different sport. Different type of racing to what we have in Europe. It's very popular here and maybe it looks easy but it's not so easy to be fast.
“We'll see how it goes and what the future brings. We go step by step and see what happens."