The "NASCAR-Raikkonen" story proves no April Fool’s prank as Kyle Busch Motorsports, announced that has already signed the 2007 F1 World Champion for a limited Camping World Truck Series 2011 schedule.
Although it was initially rumored that Raikkonen will land his own ICE1 WRC team into NASCAR with the support of RedBull Corp. and Foster Gillet, ex-manager in RPM, it is officially announced that Kyle Busch has actually founded the ideal open-wheel driver he was looking for to drive his TOYOTA Tundra trucks in the series. In fact, Kyle Busch had initially tried to lure Indycars driver Tony Kanaan as well, when his partnership with de Ferran Dragon Racing ended but the Brazilian chose to sign with KVRT continuing his Indycars career rather than moving to NASCAR.
Kimi Raikkonen commented in a statement issued by the team:
"I am really excited to have the opportunity to start my venture into NASCAR with Kyle Busch Motorsports. Kyle is one of the best in NASCAR, and being able to draw on his knowledge will be a valuable asset as I make my transition to a new form of racing. He has put together an experienced team that builds fast race trucks. I look forward to being a part of a team that has proven to be a winner on and off the race track.
Kyle Busch, who drives in all three of NASCARs top-level series commented with a great success but he still is looking for his Sprint Cup championship commented:
"We are honored that Kimi Raikkonen, a former Formula 1 World Drivers' Champion and proven winner, has chosen to start his career in NASCAR with Kyle Busch Motorsports. Adding one of the most talented drivers in the world is a continuation of building a team of proven winners and champions at KBM. I look forward to assisting in Kimi's transition to NASCAR as both an owner and teammate..
We're starting at Charlotte and we'll kind of fill out from there, see what other races he wants to do and what his schedule will allow him to do. We know we're going to go test with him on Monday and get him some laps in the truck and then we're going to see him in Charlotte, so we're looking forward to that -- all the Kyle Busch Motorsports people are."
NASCAR previously confirmed that the "iceman" was cleared to make his debut at the Charlotte Motor Speedway during the N.C Education Lottery 200 event. Raikkonen will test his NASCAR racing capabilities during at Gresham Motorsports Park, a half-mile oval in Georgia, USA.
NASCAR driver Juan Montoya used to be Raikkonen's teammate on the McLaren Mercedes F1 team during 2005 and half of '06. Their first season together, the pair won 10 of 19 F1 races with Raikkonen winning seven times but nobody could forget their controversy in and out of tracks that caused Montoya's return to US racing. However, Montoya insists he would welcome his former teammate ina Sprint Cup race and that there was more international interest in NASCAR than people might think.
"I think it would be cool if he comes here, he's a cool guy and I think he would fit right in. [NASCAR is recognized] a lot higher than people think it is. I think people here are underrated at our level against worldwide. I think maybe if you would get the numbers of how many people internationally are watching these [NASCAR] races not only in America but in Europe and Asia, I think you would shock yourself. I think they are pretty amazing.
People in Formula One are very selfish. They think there is nothing better out there [than Formula One]. You look from technology-wise, there's not. But the actual racing, [NASCAR] is exciting. It's exciting to watch, it's exciting to be here. When you hear about ovals and sometimes you watch them, the first time you watch it by yourself, 'oh yeah, it's a circle.'
But if you come and actually see how fast we're going in real life, they go, 'Oh yeah, that's a lot faster than people think it is.' People are watching. Over the last few years when I came over people started paying attention to how I ran and I think a lot of people got hooked on it. I still receive emails from people from Formula One, 'Good luck in the race, great qualifying.' It's like, 'Oh, you're paying attention.' That is surprising."
