Austin Cindric challenges Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button to step out of their comfort zone and race in ovals

Jimmie Johnson, Kimi Raikkonen, Jenson Button, Jordan Taylor, and Corner Daly are the headline makers for the COTA Cup race.

Austin Cindric challenges Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button to step out of their comfort zone and race in ovals

Kimi Raikkonen, Austin Cindric and Jenson Button

The NASCAR Cup garage is set to visit the Circuit of Americas for the first Road Course Race of the 2023 season. COTA will host only the third Cup race ever in Texas track, and fans are hoping to witness yet another impressive race day. One of the major attractions in this year’s event is the F1 world champions Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button, who are set to make their COTA cup race debut. For Button, it will also mark his NASCAR debut.

Austin Cindric, one of the most gifted road course racers in the Cup garage, has given his opinion on the ringers making cup appearances. The 2022 season Rookie of the Year said he wants the champion drivers to step out of their comfort zones and try oval racing. He pointed out that the Buttons and Raikkonen’s driving on the oval will attract more drivers to try the NASCAR challenge.

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“I’d love for it to be a gateway or catalyst to see guys of that caliber – they’re not just guys who come and do road courses, but they’re champions and world champions and were, or are, the best at what they do – coming and joining our racing,” Cindric said.

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“I hope it’s a catalyst or gateway for them joining us on not just road courses, but oval racing as well. I mean, it’s so different, but I feel it challenges you in so many different ways. I’m looking forward to one of those guys getting the opportunity to go outside of their comfort zone and do just that. I know how big of a difference and culture shift it was for me. So yeah, I hope it’s a gateway for that,” Cindric added.

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Oval racing will be a big challenge for the part-timers: Austin Cindric

Austin Cindric
Austin Cindric

The No:2 Penske driver pointed out that Oval won’t be easy for the new drivers, and they will have a wacky but fun ride. He said, “It’s (a) wacky way of doing things probably in comparison to what they’re used to. It’s a lot of fun and fun to see the growth of someone who’s trying this for the first time,”.

He added that he loves to see the storylines of drivers layering by commenting on mistakes. Cindric said,  “I’ve been in this sport for what I would consider a limited amount of time, and the things that were new to me and strange to me are probably strange, new, or different for someone else. It’s fun to see what those different, strange, awkward moments are for other people as they try to learn,”.

Cindric pointed out that the established driver will have speed without a doubt on Sunday. He said, “I think it’s fun for the race fans as well. Guys like that who are extremely established, I would expect probably every single one of them in a certain respect to have some pace this weekend,”.

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