Kimi Raikkonen crashes out of NASCAR race while Russian ex-F1 racer finishes last

Kimi Raikkonen put on a strong showing at Watkins Glen last weekend.

Kimi Raikkonen at the 2021 US Grand Prix.v1 (1)

Following a fantastic performance at the Go Bowling at the Glen event, Kimi Raikkonen’s afternoon came to an early end as he wound up in the barrier.

Raikkonen has previously contested the Nationwide and Truck series in 2011 in NASCAR, scoring points in Charlotte in the Truck race.

The Finn retired from Formula 1 at the end of last season having spent three seasons at Alfa Romeo, where he scored points 15 times.

Kimi Raikkonen in Qatar 2021.v1

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Prior to that, he had taken 21 race wins with a combination of McLaren and Ferrari, claiming the championship by one point from Fernando Alonso and Sir Lewis Hamilton in 2007 with the Scuderia.

After his exploits in the pinnacle of motorsport were over, the 41-year-old immediately entered into a team principal role, taking charge of the Kawasaki team in MXGP.

He would later announce a new racing venture, and it involved a return to NASCAR, a challenge he previously undertook during his first spell away from F1.

He returned to America with Trackhouse, and team owner Justin Marks was immediately impressed with the attitude of the former Ferrari driver.

Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain qualified ninth and 18th respectively for the team at the Glen last weekend, with Raikkonen lining up 27th for the race, just over two seconds behind polesitter Chase Elliott – a mighty effort from the Iceman.

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He climbed up to 19th in Stage One, before ending Stage Two of the race in 28th.

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The 42-year-old managed to climb as high as ninth in the race, before a late pit stop sent him back down the order.

He then got caught up, through no fault of his own, in an incident involving Chastain and Richard Childress driver Austin Dillon.

Raikkonen’s 91 car was sent careering off to the left, and he ended up in the barrier, putting pay to his efforts as Kyle Larson took the win.

However, this was a minor blemish on what had been a mightily impressive appearance in NASCAR for Raikkonen, who proved what we saw in the final few years of his F1 career – the Iceman has still got it. 

Fellow former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat, meanwhile, finished last of the classified runners as he came home in P36.