2007 Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen will be making his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Watkins Glen International this weekend and now we know which sponsors will adorn his Trackhouse Racing No. 91 car.
The Iceman, as Raikkonen has been known across his F1 racing career, will be driving as part of Trackhouse’s Project 91 initiative, which is meant to bring international racing drivers to the Cup Series. He’ll be teammates with Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain and while the former knows that Raikkonen will drive fast, he’s wondering if the Finn knows how aggressive NASCAR drivers are going to be.
“I think he is going to be fast,” Suarez told Motorsport.com. “The speed is there, and the racing part is going to be a process because it doesn’t matter how much you practice in the simulator, doesn’t matter how many tests you do – the racing part is the racing part.
“It’s different and he doesn’t know all these drivers. He doesn’t know how they race, he doesn’t know how aggressive they are, so that part is going to take a little bit. You can bring the best driver in the world and it is going to take some time in the racing part. I think [as far as] the speed, I think he is going to be good.”
You have to wonder if, when discussing how aggressive NASCAR drivers can be, Saurez wasn’t thinking of his current teammate.
While Raikkonen does have some NASCAR experience, driving in one Xfinity Series race and one Truck Series race in 2011, the Cup Series is a whole other animal.
The Iceman is coming. 🥶
Take a look at Kimi Raikkonen's @THProject91 car for his @NASCAR Cup Series debut race this weekend at @WGI. pic.twitter.com/wxhUI9Qf6n
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 15, 2022
Fans got a good look at Raikkonen’s Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 on Monday, which will be sponsored by Recogni/iLOQ. The initial reactions to the sleek design seem to be pretty positive.
This is sick @ksykes_designs https://t.co/6HdOi2ghJP
— Jon Palmieri (@speed_visions) August 15, 2022
10/10 paint scheme WOW 🤩 https://t.co/56HQAVRcDK
— KitKat 🐛🦋🏁 (@justastargirl9) August 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/gannonburgett/status/1559211326253273089
Am I a little sad Kimi Raikkonen isn't running a Perky Jerky car in his Cup debut? I am pic.twitter.com/SyI3CEajI1
— Alanis King (@alanisnking) August 15, 2022
Sleek looking car, great for the Iceman https://t.co/uMjNXvwsZG
— QuickPortero 🇨🇴🇬🇧🇺🇦 (@keqframe) August 15, 2022
When I saw his helmet for this race, I was expecting the car to be red. But this looks good. Trackhouse always has 🔥 schemes https://t.co/jfo6elGKxj
— Ironhide of NASCAR (@Kylito_Newt_28) August 15, 2022
