American formula one TV anchor Bob Varsha suspects the news about Kimi Raikkonen entering NASCAR might be a joke.<\/p>\n
“Personally I think it’s an April Fool’s joke,” the Speed TV personality told the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel.<\/p>\n
A Finnish newspaper broke the story two days ago, revealing that F1’s departed 2007 world champion will combine his rallying foray with NASCAR this year.<\/p>\n
But the news has since been confirmed, with a spokeswoman telling Canadian website auto123.com that the 31-year-old’s application to debut in the truck series at Charlotte on May 20 “was approved”.<\/p>\n
“I just find it terribly implausible,” said Varsha, explaining that Raikkonen’s famously introverted personality would not fit in NASCAR.<\/p>\n
Indeed, in 2009, Raikkonen admitted he is “not one of the biggest fans of NASCAR”.<\/p>\n
Varsha said NASCAR drivers are typically “extroverted and gregarious”: “That’s the reason he got out of formula one … because he hated the pressure of having to deal with the press”.<\/p>\n
1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve agrees that NASCAR and Raikkonen do not appear to fit together.<\/p>\n
“I think the driving won’t be a problem for him.\u00a0 His biggest challenge will be off the race track.\u00a0 He’ll need to open up socially,” said the French Canadian.<\/p>\n
“NASCAR is not a closed environment like F1 is. You need to respect the other drivers and socialise,” added Villeneuve.<\/p>\n
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