Kimi is Montoya multiplied with 10

Justin Wilson raced with Räikkönen in formula during 2003. After that the Brit moved to USA and drives in ChampCar- and IndyCar-series.

Wilson sees that Kimi is in a completely different league as the other F1-driver Montoya is.

- Kimi didn't care one bit about anything or anyone. He just wanted to drive fast. At the same time his attitude is interesting. When you take Montoya and multiply him with 10, that's where you find Kimi. Will they like him or throw him out immediately?

Wilson believes Räikkönen will adjust to any serie.

- Kimi never cared about his surrounding. Many would feel a change like this practically crushing but he doesn't care about that. He just jumped into the car and drove. Other worry over their doing and what other think. Kimi was able to concentrate on this moment and use it to his advantage, Wilson analysed.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: Nicole

F1-glance on Nascar

When exchanging news with F1-colleagues in Turkey they turned quickly the story to Kimi Räikkönen's Nascar-prospect. The surprising news is still making the F1-reporters talk.

Long time reporter Maurice Hamilton believes that Räikkönen did a completely awesome decision when going to the oval tracks.

– Of course Kimi has a lot to learn. I chatted some time ago with Montoya about how difficult it is for a F1-driver to get into Nascar-driving and he made a long list over everything you have to figure out before starting to do well there.

– It's clear that nobody there will help Kimi. They look at him as an intruder who takes a lot of the publicity they love so much. Kimi's strenghts is that he doesn't care about what others say or do.

– As soon as Kimi has taken his time to learn things he will take his place in the leading group. The car was afterall good starting from the debut. Hopefully Kimi gets so excited that he will drive the whole next season because that's the only way he will start getting those results, Hamilton thinks.

Heikki Kovalainen shrugs his shoulders when I ask for his opinion about Nascar.

– Kimi is going there so why not. They are afterall completely different circles. They use a sledge hammer to put the cars in the right measurements and the monkey wrenches are really as big as men's feet. Everything is upside down in the garage just like at home. The audience likes it and anything can happen in the races when yellow flags come out all the time and when the order is determined during the last laps, Kovalainen thought based upon his one Nascar-visit.

American F1-reporter Dan Knutson reminds that he is not a Nascar-expert. He says that Räikkönen's switch gathered unexceptionally large media-attention especially in the genre's professional magazines.

– Not so that Räikkönen comes to Nascar, it's so that a F1 World Champion is coming to Nascar. I'm sure it will also be widely seen in the publicity when Kimi drives his first races.

– Kimi is experienced and due to his rally background I'm sure he is more ready to start in Nascar than Montoya or some other F1-driver was. Nascar requires that you have to learn everything from the scratch. I believe that Kimi has enough humility to do it since he already started from scratch in rally too, Knutson thinks.

– I don't dare to say a thing about his chances to succeed. It's not going to be easy for Kimi. That's for sure.

Räikkönen's Nascar-switch hasn't caused any bigger hulabaloo in Italy. Marco Evangelisti does however say that people know Kimi will compete in the States but it's a big thing only for the genre's most dedicated fanbase.

– I have to say that Kimi leaving F1 and going to rally was bigger news compared to this one. Of course they follow more closely an old Ferrari-WDC's doings but when the driver is out of F1-circles they don't talk as much about him anymore.

– For me Nascar is a completely strange serie. Yet I know Kimi so well that if he has fun there, then he will do well there. I expected Montoya to do better than he did there, Evangelisti says.

Oleg Karpov told that they were buzzing of excitement for a whole week in Russia over the news Turun Sanomat published.

– It was big news. Kimi is a big name in Russia and he will definitely attract a lot of tv-viewers wherever the satellite is shown. Russia's tv will show Sprint Cup -races one week after the race but in order to see Truck-races one has to have satellite-channels.

– I believe strongly that Kimi will succeed in Nascar too, although it is a completely different world to anything he has ever been used to. Nelson Piquet junior started to do well after learning tens of races. I'm sure Kimi will learn faster.

– In the beginning it would be a great result if Kimi's speed would be enough for the top 10. There it doesn't matter what your starting position is but you have to get all tactical figures to fall in place in order to get a good result in the end, Karpov says.

FormulaBlog - Heikki Kulta
Courtesy: Nicole

Räikkönen and NASCAR: What Formula 1 is saying

While Dale Earnhardt Jr. wants Michael Schumacher in NASCAR, he himself dismisses this - Jenson Button believes in Kimi Räikkönen

The NASCAR switch from Kimi Räikkönen, was the major theme of recent days in the United States. The Sprint Cup aces, especially the new leader Kyle Busch, took the imminent arrival of former Formula 1 World Champion very positive. The 31-year-old Finn, who has three test days behind him will give his debut in the NASCAR Truck Series on 20 May in Charlotte.

NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. is looking forward to Räikkönen - and has another proposal: "It would be nice if Michael Schumacher would come here and get involved in a trial," Earnhardt suggested on the edge of the NASCAR weekend in Texas. "All of us would really like to see that. Since it would not matter if you think something is right or wrong. All would look at it." But this idea will remain a dream: "I'm not a fan of cars with roof," Schumacher said tersely in Malaysia.

But there are also NASCAR insiders in the current Formula 1 paddock. One who knows exactly what Räikkönen is getting into is Narain Karthikeyan. The Indian driving for HRT Racing did nine truck races last year. He never got into top 10 and was voted at the end of the year – thanks to an international online voting - the most popular truck driver 2010 as a complete surprise.

"It will not be easy for him," warned Karthikeyan. "It is very difficult there. He's clearly a talented driver and he is doing it right. He has looked for a good team and is testing a lot. He has now tested on the Rockingham Speedway, but Charlotte will then open his eyes. It's scary when you chase at full speed through the corners. If you drive all the time over 300 km/h, it is really hard work. But he will be quick there."

Jenson Button showed much understanding: "Kimi seemed to be happy to leave Formula 1. Maybe he wanted to have it more relaxed. He will find that in the states for sure. For drivers who are accustomed to slicks and wings, it is always difficult to drive all of a sudden in the NASCAR oval." Button also doesn’t show any prejudice, "These guys do that all their lives and they are no nose pickers.The change was difficult for many. Juan Pablo has taken a little while, but now he is competitive. I'm sure with Kimi it will be the same. He will prove his talent."

Felipe Massa agrees with Button largely. "I expect that he will not have it easy," said Massa. "It is something completely different and he has to start from scratch. The situation is quite different and a NASCAR is driven differently." Also the Brazilian compares the new situation with Montoya.

"Montoya had a few years his hands full, only now he can fight for the top 10. It is a completely different world. Kimi has certainly a great talent, but there he first has to learn. If he manages to do that, he may succeed in this series. First of all, he will start in a lower class if I have been informed correctly. We'll see. Apart from that of course I wish him all the best."

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg hasn’t thought about NASCAR. "It does not come to question for me. I don’t think I would enjoy. But if Kimi enjoys it and the races are exciting, it is certainly a great story. So why not?" The 20th May will provide more information when Räikkönen has done his first race on the fast 1.5 miles oval in Charlotte.

Source: Motorsporttotal
courtesy: Miezicat