The Kimi Nascar Monster Cool Lounge

Discussion about all other motor racing categories - GP2, GP3, Rallying, NASCAR, F2 & F3, MotoGP
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Re: The Kimi Nascar Monster Cool Lounge

Post by Kriss » 21 May 2011, 08:15

Raikkonen enjoys solid Truck debut
By Diego Mejia Saturday, May 21st 2011, 04:46 GMT


Kimi Raikkonen survived a race of attrition to finish 15th and on the lead lap in his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut on Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The 2007 Formula 1 world champion started from 31st in his maiden oval race, after running 30th fastest in both practice sessions early in the day. Raikkonen had struggled with a loose truck and even scraped the wall during the final session where he reported improved balance on his last run.

Early in the race and while trying to make progress, he got loose in Turn 3 and ended up brushing the wall, managing to escape with little damage to the right side of his #15 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota.

The first two cautions, caused by spins from former multiple Truck Series champions Todd Bodine and Ron Hornaday, helped Raikkonen make some progress although he missed entering the pits on the second one due to a miscommunication.

His team chose to keep him on the track and he was able to race among the top 10, getting as high as seventh as incidents continued to make the caution wave. However as his tyres started to wear he would drop a few spots as others who pitted under the second caution were running on fresher rubber.

When he was about to pit for the first time under green he got a lucky break as his team-mate Kyle Busch spun and caused another caution. Raikkonen then entered pit road with the rest of the field under yellow, getting back in sequence with the leaders.

Restarting from 14th after a trouble-free first pitstop, he continued to race among the top 15. Following his final stop for fuel and tyres he would rejoin in 18th as different strategies came into play.

Raikkonen then survived a second brush with the wall and a car spinning ahead of him within just a few laps in the closing stages of the race. Following some other late incidents, Raikkonen was able to move to 15th place when the chequered flag waved, achieving the goal set by Busch when he announced he was running the Finn last month.

"The racing was fun, it's a new thing but too many cautions," said Raikkonen after a race that was interrupted by 10 caution periods, most due to incidents where many of the series top drivers and veterans were involved. "Every time when you start feeling that the car is working better then you have a caution and it takes a long time before the handling comes back.

"I hit [the wall] in the beginning and then I hit much harder, thought I had destroyed the car. It ran really well before the pitstop and once we got the heat in the tyres it sent the pressures up but I think it cost a bit when I hit because we damaged the side too much. Handling was okay, but just with the longer runs we could have improved a bit, just because the car was better and better during the long runs."

Raikkonen said there was nothing surprisingly difficult about his first race, but declared he was much more at ease with his truck in the race than he had been after practice. He also enjoyed some close battles for position and survived multi-car incidents that unfolded ahead of him.

"Actually it was more fun than I expected, the racing," said Raikkonen. "You'd rather be higher up [in the order] but [considering] how it felt this morning in practice I'm pretty pleased how it felt in the race. For sure there's still a lot to learn and improve but I think we didn't have any major issues so it was okay."

Raikkonen's team-mate Busch recovered from his spin to beat Sprint Cup rival Clint Bowyer to victory, claiming his fourth win out of six Truck races he has entered this season. His victory places him only three wins away from 100 victories in NASCAR.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91562

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Re: The Kimi Nascar Monster Cool Lounge

Post by Kriss » 21 May 2011, 09:35

Raikkonen gives NASCAR test drive at Charlotte

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Kimi Raikkonen struggled so badly in his first few hours at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the former Formula One champion didn't expect much from his NASCAR debut.

He slapped the wall on the second lap Friday night in the Trucks Series race, wasn't sure of the rules for passing on his first restart, and missed a call into the pits from his crew. But Raikkonen still managed a 15th-place finish.

"You'd rather be more high up," he said of his finish. "But I think 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.

The Finn has not announced any more races, but alluded earlier Friday to next week's Nationwide Series event at Charlotte and later getting into the elite Sprint Cup Series. Asked directly after the Trucks race if he'll be in the Nationwide race next week, Raikkonen would not commit.

"We'll see," he said.

But something Raikkonen said a minute later was more telling when asked what he thought about Friday's schedule -- the Trucks practiced, qualified and raced all in one day.

"It's a lot shorter for sure," Raikkonen said. "It's quite far away to come from Europe."

There's no point in Raikkonen continuing in the Trucks if he's got any real interest in NASCAR. The natural progression would be a race or two in Nationwide before trying to get into some Cup events.

But Raikkonen said he's 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 night's race, admitted after that he's got a car at his shop and details could be announced soon on a Raikkonen race.

Raikkonen spent nine years in Formula One, driving for Sauber, McLaren and Ferrari. He totaled 18 wins, 62 podium finishes and won the 2007 championship.

He's currently racing for the World Rally Car Championship with his own team, ICE 1 Racing, and is ranked eighth in the overall standings. He's not scheduled to compete again in that series until next month in Greece.

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 Busch was leading, 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.

Busch kind of did that earlier Friday when he said Raikkonen could not race for KBM next week because his team was not licensed in the Nationwide Series. Asked again after Friday night's race, he admitted there's a car at his shop.

"I didn't lie," he insisted. "I don't own the car."

Busch wouldn't say he owns the car, but said it isn't listed to Joe Gibbs Racing, his wife or his parents.

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 someone else this season. The agent would not reveal the driver, so KBM officials could do nothing more than go over the costs that would need to be covered to field another entry.

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 offered no details in what his long-term plans will be, and indicated it's not that uncommon for him to be unsure of his plans. He said he didn't even decide to do the WRCC series until January.

"I don't have big plans. I don't have any plans for next year or anything of what I do," he said before the race. "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 rally -- I didn't have much expectation, I wanted to see how it is.

"It's the same story here. For sure, it's a different sport. Different type of racing than 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 will bring. We go step by step and see what happens."
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/r ... otorsports

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Re: The Kimi Nascar Monster Cool Lounge

Post by Kriss » 21 May 2011, 10:05

TRUCKS: Raikkonen Has ‘Fun’ In NASCAR Debut
Kimi Raikkonen finished 15th in his first Camping World Truck Series start...

Kimi Raikkonen had more fun than he expected in his Camping World Truck Series debut.

Finishing 15th wasn’t the fun part for a driver who has 18 Formula One wins as well as the 2007 Formula One championship trophy, but from where he started his day Friday, Raikkonen seemed satisfied following the N.C. Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Raikkonen, who struggled in practice and started 31st in the 36-truck field, actually scrubbed the wall twice during the race but avoided the carnage in a race that had 10 cautions.

“The racing was fun,” Raikkonen said. “[There were] too many cautions. Every time when I feel the car starts to work better then you have a caution and it takes a long time before the handling comes back.”

The 32-year-old Finnish driver said “we’ll see” when asked if he would run the Nationwide Series race next week. No deal is done but Kyle Busch said he has a Nationwide car at his shop.

“It is much easier once you do one race because you learn on restarts as to where you should go and stuff like that,” said Raikkonen. “It actually was more fun than I expected.

“I was OK once I knew the car was fine. It was much better than it was this morning. … I’d rather be more higher [at the finish].”

Raikkonen actually caught a break when he made a mistake when he missed pit road early in the race. But that actually allowed him to restart ninth and then a caution came out when team owner Kyle Busch spun right when Raikkonen had to pit for fuel.

That allowed him to keep decent track position and race in the mid-teens throughout the remainder of the event.

“There was too much talking going on on the radio,” said crew chief Rick Ren, who also is the general manager of Kyle Busch Motorsports. “I wanted to pit but everybody was on the radio. I’ve had experienced Cup guys do the same thing. It was no big deal.”

Raikkonen said he wasn’t too surprised by any event.

“It’s not really one thing,” Raikkonen said. “It’s just more to know what to do on restarts and where to put the car and sometimes you push a bit too hard and you run wide and then you lose places and it’s hard to get back to places.

“It’s more to really knowing where to be in the right position, but not anything real surprising.”

Ren said he was most impressed with Raikkonen on the restarts.

“What impressed me more than anything was restarts – he didn’t spin the tires and was pushing people,” Ren said. “I am wondering if F1 cars, they put down so much power that he’s got a really good feel for when the tires are slipping.”

Raikkonen said he wasn’t used to a one-day show that the trucks had with practice in the morning, qualifying in the afternoon and the race at night.


Kimi Raikkonen hits the track at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (Photo: LAT Photographic) He said he enjoyed his first NASCAR experience.

“Everybody has been very nice and very welcome so it is a nice atmosphere, very relaxed – it’s been good,” Raikkonen said.

Ren said Raikkonen’s next step will be up to him.

“It’s going to be up to him,” Ren said. “I think his first hit on NASCAR was probably pleasant compared to what it could be.

“The media stuff I hear went good today. The race went well for him.”
http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/truck ... car-debut/

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Re: The Kimi Nascar Monster Cool Lounge

Post by Kriss » 21 May 2011, 10:15

Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image

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Re: The Kimi Nascar Monster Cool Lounge

Post by Anelise » 21 May 2011, 10:32

Courtesy: TaniaS
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Re: The Kimi Nascar Monster Cool Lounge

Post by Kriss » 21 May 2011, 10:46

thanks Anelise :hug:

it was only a 1 day event and we have zillions of great pics :shhh:
(btw Kimi looks great :drool: )

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Re: The Kimi Nascar Monster Cool Lounge

Post by Lynx'niK » 21 May 2011, 10:52

:C: Wohoooo, it was freakin awesome to watch k1m1. Contrary to the majority here, who haven´t been that happy as Kimi announced he would try nascar, I was delighted to hear this news. And after this race I think some of you changed their opinion bout nascar. It´s really cool, and I really enjoyed watching him again fighting, instead of just trying to keep it on the road and be as fast as possible. Kimi is a born "killer", he has to overtake. BTW the kimi´s race suit reminded me of the renaultF1 racesuit xD
Plus, our babe finished before piquet, poor nelson :zz: Ohhh, and I have to say, Monoya is a cutie, I always liked him, he was my fav kimi teammate.

Great pictures, thank yu :thumbsup:
GOODBYE KIMI
GOODBYE RÄIKKÖNEN

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Re: The Kimi Nascar Monster Cool Lounge

Post by Claudie_Schnaudie » 21 May 2011, 11:02

Hey Nikki nice to see you here! :wave:

I´m still damn tired but it was worth to get up that early :)

Sooo many awesome pics! :drool:

This one is my favourite :drool: :drool:
Image
Kimi Kimi gimme just a little smile :)

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Re: The Kimi Nascar Monster Cool Lounge

Post by Claudie_Schnaudie » 21 May 2011, 11:05

aaaw paula :)

Image
Kimi Kimi gimme just a little smile :)

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Re: The Kimi Nascar Monster Cool Lounge

Post by Claudie_Schnaudie » 21 May 2011, 11:51

Another cute pic :blush:

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Kimi Kimi gimme just a little smile :)

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Re: The Kimi Nascar Monster Cool Lounge

Post by Kriss » 21 May 2011, 11:56

Raikkonen let slip that he hoped to run in a Nationwide car at the same venue next week - "We'll see", he told the reporters when asked about the chance - but Kyle Busch had been evasive when questioned on the point.

"We don't have a Nationwide Series license [at Kyle Busch Motorsports], and our crew guys aren't licensed for the Nationwide Series or anything," Busch said. "It would have to be with somebody else."

So what's that Nationwide series Toyota doing in the KBM garage?

"I don't own it," Busch said. "You'll find out next week."
http://www.crash.net/nascar/news/169398 ... _next.html
:zz:

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Re: The Kimi Nascar Monster Cool Lounge

Post by miezicat » 21 May 2011, 12:06

thanks for the pics :drool: :blush:


http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/N ... oming-soon
NASCAR said Friday that Raikkonen has been approved for the Nationwide Series race at CMS. Sources at KBM say there are certified chassis and motors for Nationwide cars at the shop. The only thing missing now is an owner.

While Raikkonen qualified on time in the Truck race, accomplishing that same feat in the Nationwide Series would be difficult. Despite the Finn’s resume as Formula One World Champion, it would not be advisable to enter the race without driver points, which guarantees him a spot in the field.

Principals from Red Bull Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing both denied interest in providing equipment for next week’s race for Raikkonen. Attempts to reach Joe Gibbs Racing were unsuccessful. Certainly, Raikkonen could lease the equipment from Kyle Busch Motorsports and run it under his the Ice One Racing banner – a racing team he co-owns in Finland.
Raikkonen expected to compete in next week's Nationwide race

CONCORD, N.C.—Kyle Busch fessed up.

His comments earlier Friday weren't the whole truth, when he said he wouldn't field a Nationwide car for Kimi Raikkonen next week.

Busch has been working on a deal that will put Raikkonen in a Toyota for the May 28 Nationwide race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In fact, the car is already at the Kyle Busch Motorsports shop.

"I don't own it," Busch said with a sly smile after winning Friday night's North Carolina Education Lottery 200 Camping World Truck Series race at Charlotte.

Who does own it, Busch wouldn't reveal, after admitting the car was a Toyota.

In his first news conference with NASCAR reporters, Raikkonen mentioned that he expected to drive in the Nationwide race at Charlotte. When asked about it, Busch was circumspect.

"We don't have a Nationwide Series license (at Kyle Busch Motorsports), and our crew guys aren't licensed for the Nationwide Series or anything," Busch said. "It would have to be with somebody else."

Clever, but the not whole story, as it turned out. Accordingly, you can expect to see Raikkonen behind the wheel of a Toyota on May 28—in a car to be named later.

When asked if he was running the Nationwide race, Raikkonen said, "We'll see," after finishing 15th in Friday night's truck series race at Charlotte—his NASCAR debut.

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nascar/stor ... z1MzImOhtF
Raikkonen doesn't take no for an answer

CONCORD, N.C.—So how does a Finnish former Formula One champion wind up driving in a trucks race at Charlotte Motor Speedway? He has his agent call and ask—and not take no for an answer.

Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 F1 champion, makes his NASCAR debut tonight in the Camping World Truck Series in a vehicle prepared by Kyle Busch Motorsports. Raikkonen’s agent called Rick Ren, general manager of KBM. The agent at first wouldn’t even reveal Raikkonen’s name.

Busch recounted how the deal went down:

“We told them the cost of what it took to run them and they said, ‘OK, talk to you later.’ They worked it out on their side I guess where they felt like that was an OK price to pay, called us back and said, ‘OK, we’re going to do this, we want to do Charlotte.’ We said, ‘Oh, Charlotte’s already taken, can you pick another one?’ They were like, ‘No, can’t pick another one, you have to run a second truck.’ So we were like, ‘We don’t have a second truck.’ So we talked to Vision Airlines, and asked if we could supply them a truck, and they could run the race for us.”

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nascar/stor ... z1MzJ3DT7H

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Re: The Kimi Nascar Monster Cool Lounge

Post by sleenster » 21 May 2011, 12:13

Oh Kyle Busch, you sneaky boy :lol:

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Re: The Kimi Nascar Monster Cool Lounge

Post by Anelise » 21 May 2011, 14:55

Kimi Räikkönen gets Top-15 finish in debut at Nascar 2011
http://youtu.be/EKNs5IXwdnU

Courtesy: Nicole
Räikkönen earned his Nascar-spurs
http://grandprixgirlsf1-en.blogspot.com ... spurs.html

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Re: The Kimi Nascar Monster Cool Lounge

Post by Loiste » 21 May 2011, 15:15

Principals from Red Bull Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing both denied interest in providing equipment for next week’s race for Raikkonen
:<>: I can't understand why Kimi is a persona non grata for RB. What did Kimi do last year to deserve such careless treatment from RB.

:huh:

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