Kimi Raikkonen moves to NASCAR?

[Mothers Worry]

Kimi Raikkonen, what are you thinking?

From aol.sporting news.com:

Kimi Raikkonen, what are you thinking?

It read early like an April Fool's joke—a few days early.

Former Formula 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen told a newspaper in his native Finland that he would try his hand at NASCAR racing—with Foster Gillett as a partner in his ICE-1 Racing team.

If this is true, and not an elaborate hoax, Raikkonen would be wise to be wary.

Gillett ran the day-to-day operations at Richard Petty Motorsports last year and ran the organization into the ground. Foster and his father, George Gillett, left hundreds of creditors and former employees holding the bag at RPM.

This is the same Foster Gillett who introduced himself to driver Carl Edwards by trying to "borrow" Edwards' four-wheeler in the driver/owner coach lot at Homestead—without permission.

"I hear my little Polaris Razor start up—I hear the exhaust start up," Edwards told Sporting News the day after the incident in November 2009. "'Who's in my four-wheeler?' So I run out the door, and here's these two guys—and I don't know who they are—and they're getting ready to take off. I say, 'Hey, hey, who are you?'"

One of the guys was Foster Gillett, but that was a mere peccadillo compared with some of the larger consternation the Gillett family has left in its wake.

The Gilletts are hated in England for the bungling of their ownership/management of the Liverpool soccer side in the English Premier League. In 2008, George Gillett spoke of death threats against his family from the club's fans, threats Gillett said arose primarily from comments made by his estranged partner in the team, Texas billionaire Tom Hicks.

George Gillett didn't win many friends in Montreal when, according to Forbes, he leveraged the Bell Centre for $240 million after acquiring 80.1-percent interest in the Canadiens, as well as the building. A reported $72 million of that money found its way to Gillett's pocket as a dividend.

Ultimately, Gillett sold the Canadiens to the Molson family for a tidy profit. He wasn't as fortunate in Liverpool, where he lost the team to John Henry's New England Sports Ventures in a forced sale through the Royal Bank of Scotland, which had loaned more than $350 million to Gillett and Hicks.

Some reports describe Foster Gillett as an investor in the deal with Raikkonen. With what money? Ray Evernham recently sued two companies owned by George Gillett for $19.2 million Evernham alleges is owed from the original sale of majority interest in Evernham Motorsports to Gillett.

Gillett walked away from a reported $90 million loan from Wachovia/Wells Fargo that was used to purchase Evernham Motorsports, which became RPM after a merger with Petty Holdings. Investors Andrew Murstein and Douglas Bergeron bought the loan for pennies on the dollar ($11 million, according to a Forbes report), and after Richard Petty made a substantial investment of his own, the company returned to solvency.

NASCAR will welcome Raikkonen with open arms. The Finnish driver is a bona fide superstar, and if he follows the plan of starting in the Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series before making a decision about competing in Sprint Cup, he's approaching the transition in a prudent way.

One has to wonder, though, if there's any NASCAR news in Finland. Due diligence should have squelched involvement by Foster Gillett before it started.

Richard Petty barely escaped having his name and reputation permanently sullied through association with the Gillett family.

Raikkonen doesn't need to take the same risk—and he doesn't need to leave any four-wheelers sitting around after dark.

[bradk12fan]

One of the guys was Foster Gillett, but that was a mere peccadillo compared with some of the larger consternation the Gillett family has left in its wake.

The Gilletts are hated in England for the bungling of their ownership/management of the Liverpool soccer side in the English Premier League. In 2008, George Gillett spoke of death threats against his family from the club's fans, threats Gillett said arose primarily from comments made by his estranged partner in the team, Texas billionaire Tom Hicks.

George Gillett didn't win many friends in Montreal when, according to Forbes, he leveraged the Bell Centre for $240 million after acquiring 80.1-percent interest in the Canadiens, as well as the building. A reported $72 million of that money found its way to Gillett's pocket as a dividend.

Ultimately, Gillett sold the Canadiens to the Molson family for a tidy profit. He wasn't as fortunate in Liverpool, where he lost the team to John Henry's New England Sports Ventures in a forced sale through the Royal Bank of Scotland, which had loaned more than $350 million to Gillett and Hicks.

Some reports describe Foster Gillett as an investor in the deal with Raikkonen. With what money? Ray Evernham recently sued two companies owned by George Gillett for $19.2 million Evernham alleges is owed from the original sale of majority interest in Evernham Motorsports to Gillett.

Gillett walked away from a reported $90 million loan from Wachovia/Wells Fargo that was used to purchase Evernham Motorsports, which became RPM after a merger with Petty Holdings. Investors Andrew Murstein and Douglas Bergeron bought the loan for pennies on the dollar ($11 million, according to a Forbes report), and after Richard Petty made a substantial investment of his own, the company returned to solvency.

Gillett is being sued by Evernham, Roush Fenway Racing, Robbie Loomis, Richard Petty, Fenway Sports Management, among others...and Raikkonen wants to drive for him.....WHAT THE HELL IS HE THINKING?

[Oldtony]

It now appears that the Gillet conrection is either finished, or more likely never existed!
Thought the Robertsons, Kimi's managment team, were to smart to get involved with them.
Kimi is apparently down to test a Kyle Busch truck, and wil debut in thier spare in May (Charlottevile??)
Maybe the rally experience will help him handle the huge drop off in downforce compared with F1 to NASCAR that others have tried.

[bradk12fan]

It now appears that the Gillet conrection is either finished, or more likely never existed!
Thought the Robertsons, Kimi's managment team, were to smart to get involved with them.
Kimi is apparently down to test a Kyle Busch truck, and wil debut in thier spare in May (Charlottevile??)
Maybe the rally experience will help him handle the huge drop off in downforce compared with F1 to NASCAR that others have tried.

Kimi Raikkonen will be attempting a limited schedule for Kyle Busch Motorsports in a 2nd KBM truck beginning with the Charlotte Motor Speedway race. Also, I heard that the Gillett's are trying to buy into the WRC team Kimi drives for, ICE 1 Racing.

[bradk12fan]

Raikkonen to rent trucks from KBM for US $100,000 per race, Perky Jerky to sponsor

UPDATE 5: Kimi Raikkonen will pay a reported $100,000 per race as he moves to establish a career in America's premier NASCAR series. Canada's Rue Frontenac said driver and team owner "Kyle Busch has never met Kimi Raikkonen" but will "entrust one of his excellent trucks" to the Finn "in exchange for a US $100,000 check at every race". Rue Frontenac said Raikkonen's plan is to "pay for some truck races to raise interest and get a sponsorship budget for Nationwide and possibly the (premier) Sprint Cup". His contract with Busch is reportedly for three to five races. "Raikkonen shopped around for a drive with a number of teams and we won the war," Busch is quoted as saying. Raikkonen tested the truck at the Gresham half-mile on Monday.(Facebook - Ice 1 Racing)(4-5-2011)
UPDATE 6: Perky Jerky the ultra-premium jerky flavored with a hint of guarana that's quickly gaining fame around the world, announced today its sponsorship of former Formula One World Champion and current World Rally competitor, Kimi Räikkönen. The relationship is set to launch alongside Räikkönen's NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series on May 20th. In 2011, Räikkönen will sport the Perky Jerky livery in NASCAR through IceOne Racing, Räikkönen's motorsport outfit.(PerkyJerky.com)(4-6-2011)

from Jayski.com

 ....it's very unusual for a driver to pay an owner to run their car/trucks....maybe it has something to do with KBM being about a million dollars in debt, the $300,000-$500,000 from Raikkonen would take a huge chunk out of that

[adrenalinmatt1]

Good Interview with Kyle Bush on the Wind Tunnel about Kimi's arrival..

[SLE355]

I wish we had Wind Tunnel on here.

[Supersleeper]

Kimi has a big day at NASCAR debut. My ass is burning....
 

[bradk12fan]

Kimi has a big day at NASCAR debut. My ass is burning....
 

That was his Nationwide Series debut. His Truck Series debut went much better and smoother. He started 32nd in the Truck series and finished 15th. In the Nationwide series he started 23rd and finished 29th 4 laps down. He sped on pit road, and ran over the splitter of another car.