Kimi Räikkönen’s race at the Watkins Glen track ended with an interruption in the third part of the race.
Räikkönen’s journey ended with an outing at the Watkins Glen track of the NASCAR Cup. AP
Despite the rain and the delay, the Nascar Cup Series was able to start on Sunday evening.
The race was held at the Watkins Glen track in New York.
Kimi Räikkönen’s starting position was 27th.
Before the start
The weather conditions have a merciless effect on the races and so the drivers, cars and track are at the mercy of the weather. However, the intense heat inside the car is not as bad as it seems.
Räikkönen has a ventilated helmet and cooling pipes with water flowing inside the suit. Rain is the most challenging of the conditions.
When the rain finally started to subside, around 23:45 Finnish time, the biggest question was what kind of tires and how long it would be possible to drive on a wet track.
Räikkönen started the race from the 27th position.
The suspense play of the preliminary competition, first stage
The race started on a wet track, but the track dried quickly.
The questions brought excitement to the race: can the edge continue with rain tires? How long do they last under before they melt under?
In the end, the track was so dry that the tires had to be changed. You slipped under and away you went.
Räikkönen’s first pit stop didn’t quite go well, and the car didn’t hit the right spot. However, the tanks were filled and the tires were changed.
Räikkönen finished the first run in 19th place.
After the first part, the leader of the race was found Chase Briscoe.
Another stage
At the start of the second part of the race, Räikkönen got off to a great start and finished around 10th.
The weather has turned sunny and the track surface was completely different from what was seen at the beginning of the race.
Räikkönen’s second stop went flawlessly.
Joey Logano won the second part of the race and Räikkönen made one more stop with three laps to go, dropping to 28th.
Kyle Larson won the race in the very last laps. PDO
Third stage
Räikkönen starts the third and longest run in 22nd place.
The third stage of the race is 50 laps and during it, measurements are taken of both the drivers’ corner and the performance of the cars.
Kimi Räikkönen’s race is interrupted immediately after the start. Räikkönen’s car was hit Loris Hezemansin the back corner of the car and the race ended for him. The yellow flag was raised and Räikkönen’s car was towed to the pit.
Räikkönen says after the race that he also received a small shock in his hand during the race. During the race, however, the car ran well.
– The wrist is a bit bad, but it will disappear when you get home, you don’t know what happens to it, laughs Räikkönen.
Räikkönen said after the race that the drive felt good and the car under it felt good and its feeling improved during the drive.
– It’s a shame that the ride ended short and it was nice to drive, said Räikkönen.
The bow received so much damage, that it would not have been possible to continue the race even through the pits.
After the restart, the race quickly got back up to speed, and there were no dramatic turns in the race. There were a few spins on the track, but after them the race could continue almost without interruption.
The last ten laps of the race are run as a sprint race.
During the very last laps Loris Hezemans spun to the sand and the last laps were driven in tension, whether the race will go to additional laps. However, there was no need for it.
Came to the top of the competition Kyle Larson four laps before the end of the race.
The race ended with Larson winning.
Räikkönen did not yet comment on a possible return to NASCAR racing.