Full-time NASCAR drive a “possibility” for Button if wildcard races successful · RaceFans

Jenson Button says it’s a “chance” that he might get the possibility to compete in a full NASCAR Cup sequence season in 2024 if his three visitor appearances this yr are profitable.

The 2009 world champion will make his NASCAR debut on the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday twenty sixth March. The previous Williams, Renault, Honda, Brawn and McLaren F1 driver, who lives along with his household in the USA, will race within the quantity 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford Mustang at three street course races, together with NASCAR’s first ever avenue circuit spherical in Chicago in July and the Indianapolis street course occasion in August.

Button, who competed in Tremendous GT in Japan after retiring from Components 1 – changing into GT500 champion in 2018 – has by no means raced in a inventory automobile earlier than. He says he has lengthy held a want to race in NASCAR, stemming from having watched the Tom Cruise NASCAR movie ‘Days of Thunder’ on Channel 4 as a toddler.

“For a really very long time I’ve watched NASCAR – a few many years,” Button instructed media together with RaceFans after his entry was introduced.

“Rising up within the UK, we had 4 channels on TV again then, again within the late eighties, and we didn’t get any actual sport outdoors of European sport. So it was really Days of Thunder that to begin with introduced me to NASCAR, as a result of it’s the primary time I obtained to see any NASCAR.

“It’s so completely different to what I’m used to. And I feel that’s most likely what stopped me asking the query whether or not I’d be capable of race in NASCAR, as a result of it’s so completely different to something I’ve pushed earlier than. And likewise again then it was extra ovals – there weren’t actually any avenue programs. In order that didn’t excite me a lot as a result of it’s one other talent set altogether. However now there are extra street programs, it’s undoubtedly extra attractive and likewise I feel I’d be extra aggressive.”

Button competed in 17 seasons in Components 1 between 2000 and 2016, beginning 306 grands prix and profitable 15 of them. After fellow F1 champions Jacques Villeneuve and Kimi Raikkonen each raced in NASCAR’s premier class within the Daytona 500 and at Watkins Glen, respectively, final yr, Button says he’s excited to discover the uniquely relaxed ambiance of racing in NASCAR in comparison with Components 1.

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“I don’t need to be adverse about Components 1, as a result of it’s an incredible sport – I’m an F1 world champ, so I spent most of my life there – however you’re so focussed,” Button defined. “Your loved ones doesn’t come to the races as a result of groups don’t really need them to be there as a result of they know that your focus is so essential.

“It’s very powerful as a result of it’s your life. It’s every thing – every thing you do is for Components 1. And I did it for 17 years. You’re on this world and also you neglect about every thing else – all that issues is making you a greater racing driver and a greater Components 1 driver. So while you step outdoors that for me, it’s thrilling to do different issues.

“And with NASCAR, it’s a way more relaxed ambiance. Don’t get me fallacious – the racing may be very critical and these are a number of the finest drivers on the earth. However the ambiance outdoors the automobile, the ambiance on the observe, it’s much more relaxed. It’s extra of a family-based class. So I feel that’s why we prefer it, as a result of it’s attempting one thing completely different.

“Jacques raced final yr, Kimi did a race final yr and everybody appears to get pleasure from it. I feel it’s additionally as a result of we love one other problem. It’s attempting one thing completely different. We’re not simply F1 drivers, we’re racing drivers.”

Whereas Button will solely be competing in street course and avenue circuit races as a part of his three-race deal, he says he doesn’t imagine it could be clever for him to attempt his hand at an oval race at Cup Sequence degree with out first getting expertise in considered one of NASCAR’s junior classes first.

“For me, it’s not simply driving the racing automobile,” he mentioned. “You understand, a racing automobile is a racing automobile – it’s very completely different to what I’m used to, however you become familiar with it over time. It’s the racing that’s much more tough.

“It’s having automobiles throughout you, having a spotter telling you who’s the place and a number of the time you’re caught within the center and you may’t actually do a lot. It’s only a very completely different kind of racing. And that’s the bit I feel would take some time. I can go and drive on an oval and I’m certain it could take me time, however I’d become familiar with it – particularly a circuit like Daytona, the place it’s flat the entire method round – but it surely’s while you put different automobiles into the equation and the drafting and the pushing… it’s lots to be taught. Doing that within the Cup sequence most likely isn’t one of the best ways, me leaping in a Cup automobile at Daytona. I feel it could be higher to do it in a decrease class first and get a little bit of expertise that method.”

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Button isn’t dismissing the prospect of him competing in NASCAR past 2023 and even incomes a full time entry into the championship. Nevertheless, he admits any likelihood of him racing sooner or later will depend upon his efficiency throughout his first three races.

“There’s all the time a chance, I assume, but it surely’s all all the way down to efficiency,” Button admitted. “These three races, the explanation why I’ve obtained the drive is due to what I’ve achieved beforehand and my relationship with Mobil 1, but when they don’t go properly, it’s not going to go properly for 2024 by way of getting a driver for a full season.

“If I just like the championship, if I just like the automobile, if I feel it’s enjoyable and an pleasing and I will be aggressive – there’s all the time that chance. However as I mentioned, it’s a number of studying in a really completely different method than I’m used to.”

In the summertime, Button will characterize NASCAR on this yr’s Le Mans 24 Hours, the place the North American sequence has entered a modified Cup automobile for the centenary version of the race below Storage 56 guidelines, which provides experimental or distinctive entries to compete outdoors of the present lessons. Button will race NASCAR’s Storage 56 entry with Mike Rockenfeller and seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who Button says inspired him to just accept the chance to race in NASCAR.

“Jimmy’s been very helpful. Not simply with this, however with my Storage 56 venture,” he mentioned. ” He’s pushed inventory automobiles his entire life, so everyone knows how tough it’s to shift from an open-wheel, high-downforce automobile to a inventory automobile and vice versa.

“I’d say my largest level of contact over the past 4 or 5 months has been Jimmy and it’s as a result of we’ve labored collectively fairly a bit on Storage 56. Which is clearly very completely different to a Cup automobile – it’s type of like eight seconds faster a lap. However we’ve achieved three exams already and we’ve been collectively for all three of them.

“I mentioned to him once I had this chance, I used to be like, ‘what do you suppose? Ought to I do it?’ He mentioned, ‘mate, you undoubtedly need to do it’. He mentioned, ‘you’ll have a blast.’ I used to be like, ‘proper, I’m in!’. So if Jimmy thinks it’s going to be enjoyable, it’s going to be enjoyable.”

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