The future of racing is... Nascar?

"Iceman" Kimi Raikkonen during a press conference at
Charlotte Motor Speedway.  Associated Press.

Did Steve McQueen secretly dream of runnin' moonshine with Bo Duke?


As doubtful as it is, Nascar has become the chosen motorsport for many Formula 1 champions. 


How could an internationally acclaimed driver go from the glamorous, challenging, and jet set world of Formula 1 to the backwoods, bud light, redneck world of Nascar?  And yet Colombian F1 ace Juan Pablo Montoya did just that, successfully I might add.  Montoya was Nascar rookie of the year in 2007, the year after he made the switch.  Although, it would be plain embarrassing if weren't.  If you had won the Monaco Gran Prix, one of the most demanding races of the most demanding form of racing, and you couldn't handle driving in a circle for a few hours, you should start checking the classified for jobs.


"When I was in F1, every week I was on the podium. It was cool, but is it satisfying? It wasn’t, because it was the most boring races" Montoya said in a press conference after a 2008 Nascar race in California.


Apparently continually turning left and constantly drafting is more exciting to Montoya than hairpin turns and exotic race tracks.  And one of his former teammates shares the same sentiment.


World acclaimed 2007 F1 world champion and lead Team Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen is switching to Nascar.  Check the thermostat in hell because it must have frozen over.  Imagine having a Ferrari in you garage and walking right past it to get in a Chevy Monte Carlo. And while you are day dreaming, imagine sharing a bud light and reminiscing about the late Dale Earnhardt with a Finnish Formula 1 driver.  That would be like seeing Lady Gaga wearing something that wasn't a bacon bikini or dress made from the pelt of Kermit the frog.  And on top of that, Kimi isn't even driving true Nascar, he has been entered in the Camping World Truck Series.  That's right: truck racing.  He managed to find the only other form of racing inferior to Nascar. 


"Iceman" as Raikkonen is nicknamed, said in a press release earlier this month he is "really excited to have the opportunity to start my venture into NASCAR"


Along with Montoya and Raikkonen, Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr. is another former F1 driver who switched to Nascar truck series racing.  Piquet was accused of deliberately crashing in 2008 as a ploy to help teammate Fernando Alonso win the Singapore Grand Prix.  Clearly Piquet was tired of being number two behind Alonso.


The talent is apparently swarming to Nascar and truck series racing. Don't be surprised when you hear that Michael Schumacher has left retirement to pursue a career in Nascar.   Listen closely as the fat lady is singing. F1 is done.