Montoya confident for Räikkönen in Nascar: “He will do well”

For novice fans of Formula 1, ask for the opinion of Kimi Räikkönen's freelance in Nascar to an old gentleman of 46 years old, rather imposing like Juan Pablo Montoya makes little sense. But the inveterate specialist remembers with emotion the jousts between the two drivers on the Formula 1 circuits between 2001 and 2006, first as adversaries, then as teammates at McLaren.

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Asked about the participation of “Iceman” in the competition Nascar Cup Series at Watkins Glen scheduled for August 21, 2021, the two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 was amused by this “one-shot”.

“He’s going to be fine. One of his biggest challenges will be to have extreme recourse to the “bump” (Nascar technique consisting of gently pushing the car with its front bumper to make a place. Editor's note). When you disembark from the Single seat, you believe that by closing the door on your opponent in a corner, it will be enough to keep him behind you. In Nascar, you do that, and you get hit. That's what I was doing! »

JP Montoya notably won a Nascar Nextel race at Sonoma in 2007. © LAT / DPPI

Retired from Grands Prix after 350 F1 starts (record), Kimi Räikkönen will have to handle a Chevrolet Camaro that is much clumsier than a single-seater. “He will be surprised by the slowness of the car”, continues Juan Pablo Montoya, who made 253 starts in the Cup Series with Chip Ganassi Racing between 2006 and 2013 (two successes. Editor's note).

“However, a Nascar car is not at all physical to drive. She is very slow, yes. When you think you're at 30% of her potential... she's actually at 100% (laughs). A Nascar on an oval is another animal, there is more technology and technique. »