http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90331 Sounds to me like he earned a ton of money in F1 and he's now doing stuff he really fancies. Wonder when we'll see him in Powerboating or Bobsleighing? Have any other drivers scored points in F1, WRC, & NASCAR?
And again, F1 is shown to be the stepping stone to NASCAR. Hopefully he'll do better than all the rest of the struggling former F1 drivers. (note -- I won't believe this until he takes a green flag)
I would love to see this happen! I used to rip on Kimi for his laid back attitude, but he's shown he's just a true racer.
At first I thought it was an early April fools joke, but it seems legit. I'm naturally surprised like everyone else because Kimi himself said he had no interest in Nascar a few years back when asked, now the big turn around. My guess is it could be one or a combination of reasons: 1- his rally team which I think he bankrolls is draining the bank account, Nascar is paid to drive gig 2- he needs to be challenged 3- sick of F1 politics and lack of racing (the Montoya argument) 4- he actually has gained respect for the sport watching his former teammate Juan struggle to make it in the top 10 Personally, I love this move. As a F1 diehard, I fell into category 4 and since Juan went into Nascar have followed it religiously and just started attending events last year. The biggest challenge for Kimi may be beyond the race course. We all know the amount of sponsorship events these Nascar guys do is ten fold compared to every other motorsport. Kimi is not a people person so he'll struggle with that, but he likes to drink so he'll probably get along with the Nascar faithful.
I love it! Kimi trading paint with Tony Stewart and Mark Martin? I might have to start drinking Budweiser again. I will actually tune in to see this and will get the good passes to at least one race. Good for you, Kimi!
I am afraid that Kimi is going down in my esteem. Taking a sabatical from F1 was understandable. Turning his back to it to try his luck at the World Rallying Championship was taking a gamble: it didn't pay off. Now moving to NASCAR seems to be whimsical. OK, so he wants to taste different forms of motor racing, but he cannot expect instant results. I would say that his credibility is now in question.
I love the fact that the guy has the spine to do whatever he wants. He has the $$, and wants to have fun. Same reason Montoya left; they don't want to race in F1 anymore! One of the most common things you will hear an open wheel driver say after a NASCAR race is how fun it is. F1 cars are fun to drive; NASCAR is fun to race for people like Montoya/Stewart/Gordon/villenueve etc....
I hope he can still remain competitive while driving WRC & NASCAR, that's quite a transition between both sports.
Since when has he been competitive in WRC ? Granted he's fairly new to the sport, and may improve, but he is one of the slowest guys in a full works car in the field. And the WRC teams are not willing to invest or take any more risk with him, as this season he is funding his drives out of his own pocket (According to WRC tv). I see this NASCAR move as Kimi just looking for something else to do, as his time in the WRC could be very limited, unless he's willing to pay for a drive himself every year !
Unless he has vastly changed his opinion since 2006, it will never happen... http://news.softpedia.com/news/Schumacher-Thinks-NASCAR-Is-a-Bore-29720.shtml
I must admit I laughed a bit at the news that kimi "I was having a sh**" Raikkonen was moving to nascar. I can only hope it'll be like talladega nights.
Exactly, just because he isn't winning titles doesn't mean he isn't doing well. I am very excited for this move from Kimi!
IF this is true you have to hand it to Kimi. The man does what he wants and couldn't care less what the world thinks. Have fun Kimi.
Kimi and Schumy are my two favorite drivers. At first I was like WTF is he thinking, but got his F1 title and just wants to do whatever he wants. So more power to him.
Kimi's f1 title was long overdue and well earned. By all rights he should have more than one. The fact that he is in his prime and bailed shows you how much BS f1 is full of. I hope he enjoys himself and his endeavors.
Fun? does he have the focus? does he have the work ethic? what's his motivation? fun??? Lots of drivers out there that have everything on the line every race. they are serious. I doubt if Kimi is.
