Yesterday Trackhouse Racing announced that Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen would be driving the Project 91 car on the road course at Circuit of the Americas.

Raikkonen will not be the only F1 driver in the race; on Thursday, Rick Ware Racing announced that former F1 driver Denson Button would be running the race at COTA; along with the street course in Chicago and at the road course in Indianapolis and driving the number 15 car. 

COTA will be Button’s debut in a NASCAR Cup Series car, saying “obviously, racing a Cup car is very different than what I’m used to.  It’s a lot heavier with a lot less power and, basically, no downforce. It’s got a sequential gearbox where you need to blip the throttle, so there’s lots of stuff to learn in a very short space of time.  But I just get excited about that new challenge, and when I throw myself into something, I am 100 percent in. I’m not just doing it for fun in some one-off. I want to be competitive, and I know that to be competitive, it’s going to take a bit of time. That’s why doing these three races works very well this season.”

Button added, “A Cup car has a lot less downforce and is a lot heavier, but the Garage 56 car has given me an idea of what it will be like along with a direction, which is really useful. I know in my first race I’m not expected to be qualifying right at the front and I’m not expected to be fighting for a victory. I have a lot of respect for the drivers racing in the Cup Series. There’s so much talent there, whether it’s on ovals or road courses.”

Button will have his old sponsor Mobil 1 for the three races.

Button will be joining Jimmie Johnson and Mike Rockenfeller and alternate and coach Jordan Taylor in the Garage 56 car this summer for the 24 hour race at Le Mans.

Jenson Button won 15 races during his 17 seasons as a Formula One drivers and was named the champion in 2009.  After retiring from F1 in 2016, Button has driven in the Super FT Series,the FIA World  Endurance Championship, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Baja 1,000.

In an interview last month Button noted, “I think if I could do a few races, I would be up for it. Jumping in for one? That doesn’t interest me.”


Also coming to COTA is the “choose rule” where all of the drivers will choose which lane they wish to use during restarts.  Previously, the “choose rule” was not available on road course races. 

The addition is one of a number of changes NASCAR is making for short course and road course races to increase the competition which includes a reduction in downforce and a shorter spoiler.

A rarity since NASCAR returned after the COVID pandemic, the drivers will get a 50 minute practice session.