These Two F1 Champions Will Race in NASCAR at COTA

The NASCAR Cup grid at COTA this weekend will include some standout stars from other forms of racing.

Kimi Raikkonen, who won the 2007 Formula 1 world championship for Ferrari as part of a long and productive career in that sport, will return for the second time to race a NASCAR Cup car at COTA this coming weekend.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Raikkonen said. “It’s helpful that I know the track. Obviously a Formula 1 car and a NASCAR—it’s slightly different how the track feels when you go around it. I need to remember that there’s slightly less downforce the first time going out of the pits,” he added with a laugh.

The Ice Man will drive the No. 91 Onx/iLOQ Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91, the same team he drove for in last year’s Cup event at COTA. Last year at this track, after minimal time in the car, he ran as high as eighth before being involved in contact on the track that put him out of the race. This year he’s hoping for more seat time but won’t really get it.

“I had some experience from the last year, from that race, with the car so we’ll see,” Raikkonen said. “I don’t know how it works with the same schedule, with short practice, and qualifying. The plus side is that I know the track but… I haven’t driven any car since the NASCAR (race at COTA last year). I did a little bit go-kart with my son, a proper go-kart, so that’s at least a little help, but it will be tricky for sure. Again, the further we go in the weekend the more easy it gets but at least I have an idea what’s going on, and how we maybe can approach the weekend and (get) slightly better.”

Raikkonen’s old F1 rival Jenson Button will be the other F1 champion on the NASCAR Cup grid at COTA. The 2009 Formula 1 champion will drive the No. 15 Ford Mustang as part of a three-race campaign for Rick Ware Racing. Unlike Raikkonen, who drove in both Camping World Truck Series and the Nationwide Series before last year’s Cup ride at Watkins Glen, it’ll be Button’s first time driving a Cup car.

That might not be too much of a problem for Button, who has piloted a wide variety of race vehicles in his career, including everything from Super GT in Japan to Le Mans to the Baja 1000 in a Spec Trophy Truck. He will also drive a lightened version of a NASCAR Cup car at Le Mans with Jimmie Johnson.

Speaking of seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, he, too, will be back on the grid at COTA. Johnson will return in the No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet. IndyCar racer Conor Daly will also be racing Cup at COTA, piloting The Money Team Racing’s No. 50 Chevrolet. Le Mans class winner and three-time IMSA champion Jordan Taylor will drive the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at COTA, subbing for the injured Chase Elliott.

So whatever kind of racing you prefer, there’s a good chance you’ll see it represented on the Cup grid at COTA. It’s all part of NASCAR’s drive to draw in more international racing names to the sport.