Kimi to NASCAR

[cosworth151]

I thought about calling this thread "Kimi Moves to Haas for 2017."

AutoWeek is reporting rumors that Ferrari driver & past WDC Kimi Raikkonen will drive for NASCAR's Stewart-Haas racing. There will be room for him. Tony Stewart is retiring from driving at the end of this season, and Danica Patrick is considered to be past her prime in sponsorship. SHR will also be making the jump to Ford.

Now, can the Kimster trade his champagne & yacht for a Bud Light & a bass boat?

[Jericoke]

Don't some NASCAR tracks have infield lakes?  Fly in a party boat, load the freezer with ice cream, and Kimi's good.

I think NASCAR would love a WDC to create waves internationally.

[Scott]

That's an interesting move.  As for him igniting an international interest in NASCAR, I think Montoya showed it's not certain to happen.  And I don't think NASCAR is even going for that sort of exposure.  They want a guy called the ICEMAN, who speaks his mind and drives very fast.  They will get exactly that with Kimi. 

But I think he'll get bored quickly and move back home after a season or so, or back to Switzerland.

[Jericoke]

I'm not as well versed in auto history as some members here, but isn't Andretti the only driver with genuine success in both Formula One and NASCAR?

And even then, it was NASCAR to F1, not vice versa. 

I do think that Montoya showed that being a good F1 driver doesn't provide any advantage in NASCAR.  I think it's easy to underestimate the skill of NASCAR drivers because it seems like all they do is turn left.  With minimal differences between cars, and predictable laps, the minute differences between drivers makes a big difference (isn't that Vettel's dream series?)

[John S]

I'm surprised Kimi has not learned from his Rally adventures, switching disciplines was hardly a success. If it's true I can only guess it's the money or just maybe the buzz of trying something new that's attracting the adrenaline junkie in him.

[cosworth151]

Mario was never a regular NASCAR driver. He ran a total of 14 races spread over 4 years. This was at a time when the series was running 40+ races a year. He was usually brought in as a "ringer" for road courses, like Riverside. He ran more in the U.S.A.C. Stock Car Series. It was a competing series run by the sanctioning body of Indy racing back then.

I really want to see how Kimi & the NASCAR fans take to each other.

[Scott]

Aero handling are total opposites in NASCAR and F1 - most drivers wont get that bit.  NASCAR there is only minimal aero downforce, while it is optimized for drafting, unlike F1.  Getting a feel for a car that is almost constantly on the edge of grip is also a challenge moving to NASCAR. 

I'm not sure Kimi will handle it all that much better than Montoya did.

[Warmwater]

F1 and Nascar are worlds apart.
It would seem that a driver who can accurately sense how the car is reacting would be successful in any series, but apparently that is not absolute.
Many years ago it was probably possible, but with the advancement of aerodynamics, electronics, suspension, power train, and rubber technologies that differ so much in every series today, not likely. Just because you can be successful in the Dakar does not mean you can win a Sprint car race.
Probably.

[Willy]

Sorry, I don't get on here very often so am slow to add to some threads.

Kimi moving to NASCAR would be a disaster for both the team and him.
They are completely different forms of driving and call for skills that may not be developed enough from one series to the next.
Everything about the cars are very different and as we know, Kimi is not going to stay very long somewhere he is not having some success.

[F1fanaticBD]

Let the NASCAR fans have a little taste of ICEMAN 

Its pretty difficult to assess how a driver a perform in a different series, but history has shown in recent years, that this has not been useful for anyone. I do consider Mika Hakkinnen as great driver, but his shift in DTM never matched the perks he got in F1, infact none of the F1 drivers opted for different series shone after F1.

[Dare]

Looks like Kimi is being forced to look outside
F1 by Ferrari itself.Podiums aren't enough to
satisfy the bosses it seems.I'd almost give odds
Kimi is replaced by Bottas next year or who ever the
moments wonder boy is.Maybe Lewis may want the seat
if Nico keeps winning

[Jericoke]

Sorry, I don't get on here very often so am slow to add to some threads.

Kimi moving to NASCAR would be a disaster for both the team and him.
They are completely different forms of driving and call for skills that may not be developed enough from one series to the next.
Everything about the cars are very different and as we know, Kimi is not going to stay very long somewhere he is not having some success.

Kimi moving to NASCAR would not be a disaster.  Like all top level racing series, NASCAR is an exercise in mobile billboards.  Kimi will bring new attention to NASCAR, that attention will bring sponsors, and his team will benefit before turning a single lap.

Obviously there is a risk to Kimi's 'legacy', however I don't think he cares about that.  If he's having fun, he won't mind turning in 43rd place finishes.

[cosworth151]

I'm not sure how much more attention NASCAR would get from Kimi. I doubt it will ever catch on in the rest of the world, and over here, he's "Kimi who?" Also, NASCAR sponsors expect a lot of public appearance duty from their drivers. I can't see Kimi going along with that.

in fact none of the F1 drivers opted for different series shone after F1.

Mark Webber & Allan McNish each went on to win FIA WEC championships. McNish went on to win two 24 Hours of LeMans races, five 12 Hours of Sebring and two American LeMans Series crowns. Of course, it could be said that Allan was a sports car racer who briefly tried F1, not an F1 guy who went to sports cars. 

[Jericoke]

I'm not sure how much more attention NASCAR would get from Kimi. I doubt it will ever catch on in the rest of the world, and over here, he's "Kimi who?" Also, NASCAR sponsors expect a lot of public appearance duty from their drivers. I can't see Kimi going along with that.

No, Kimi won't bring a lot of attention in the USA, but NASCAR has already peaked there.  It will cause a few F1 fans to check out NASCAR.  I doubt they'll stay long, but some might.  And if Kimi actually wins, they'll stay longer.  It's not a big risk to take.

As for the non sponsor appearances:   NASCAR fans do have a bit of a fondess for 'rebels'.  A driver who doesn't fit the mould could gain a following quickly.  Sponsors might decide they don't need him gladhanding if he's getting screen time.

[F1fanaticBD]

Mark Webber & Allan McNish each went on to win FIA WEC championships. McNish went on to win two 24 Hours of LeMans races, five 12 Hours of Sebring and two American LeMans Series crowns. Of course, it could be said that Allan was a sports car racer who briefly tried F1, not an F1 guy who went to sports cars. 

In that sense we missed both Nico Hulkenberg and Giancarlo Fisichella, both of them won the 24-hours Le Mans, though Fisi won category not the overall race