Who knew that Tom Cruise would have such an influence on a nine-year outdated Jenson Button? Little did we all know that the child from Frome in Somerset, who was simply starting to tear up the kart tracks of the UK after which onwards to Components 1 stardom, was so in awe of Cole Trickle and his considerably unorthodox journey to successful a fictitious model of the Daytona 500 for Harry Hogge…
“The place I grew up we had 4 channels on TV, so we didn’t have any NASCAR racing protection,” says Button. “So, the primary NASCAR race I ever watched was Days of Thunder!
“I used to be like ‘that is so cool’. I used to be 9 on the time, watching with my dad. To get the possibility to stay out that dream, it’s actually cool.”
Thursday’s announcement that Button will run three road course races was revealed in a somewhat Hollywood way, with him showing on FOX’s RaceHub present, becoming a member of host Kaitlyn Vincie, former NASCAR group proprietor Andy Petree and Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray to debate his new deal.
In fact, Button can also be concerned as a driver in NASCAR’s Storage 56 programme, which takes a Chevrolet Camaro to this 12 months’s Le Mans 24 Hours, however his likelihood to race in Cup – in a Rick Ware Racing Ford Mustang – is nothing greater than a contented coincidence for the now Californian-domiciled 43-year-old.
“I’m excited and really nervous on the similar time,” says Button. “It’s so completely different. I’ve seen so many drivers from background in Components 1 getting right into a inventory automobile, a Cup automobile, and it’s actually troublesome. And also you don’t get a lot observe both.
“I’m up for a problem, I’ve received the utmost respect for the drivers and groups I’ll be racing in opposition to. It’s staggering the eye to element they go to, to be aggressive. It’s going to take a little bit of time; endurance will likely be key whereas I’m studying. To not overdrive it and get pissed off, that’s the factor.”
Button’s preparation is in full swing proper now, with the COTA race simply a few weeks away. He received some sly inventory automobile monitor time prematurely with the Storage 56 automobile – “it’s a lot completely different [to a Cup car] – in any other case they wouldn’t let me check,” he shortly factors out – and was delighted to seek out that NASCAR has prolonged its observe session in Austin to 50 minutes slightly than 15. However what does he anticipate from his debut?
Button’s Rick Ware Racing Ford Mustang for his NASCAR debut
Picture by: True Pace PR
“I’ve watched the races again and again, particularly on the highway course races, to get an understanding of the completely different types,” he says. “There’s a variety of rubbing and tapping and all kinds – it’s very bodily.
“It’s such a problem and it’s so thrilling for me, I do know the extent within the Cup Collection is staggeringly good. I’ve been watching lots, to know the racecraft. And it’s about understanding every particular person driver as properly, and the way they drive the automobile. Some are extra aggressive than others.”
The three tracks have been picked with Button’s road-racing experience in thoughts – though you received’t see him at Watkins Glen, as a result of the small RWR squad can’t flip across the automobile shortly sufficient from the earlier race. However its means match his expectations; this deal is all about studying slightly than successful – for now, no less than.
“Beginning at COTA, I really like the monitor and I’ve raced there in F1,” says Button. “It’s nice to begin there, and since I do know it I simply should be taught the best way of racing. It does kinda really feel like a distinct monitor, as a result of an F1 automobile is 40-seconds a lap faster!
“When this chance arose, I referred to as Jimmie and mentioned, ‘ought to I do it?’ And he mentioned, ‘mate, you’ll have a blast’. In order that’s why I’m in! If Jimmie thinks it’ll be enjoyable, it’ll be enjoyable” Jenson Button
“Indy, I do know half the monitor, as a result of we raced there in F1. Chicago is new to everybody and racing a automobile that weighs 3500lbs, on a avenue circuit, that wouldn’t be one of the best first race for me! It’s going to be a fantastic spectacle; it’s robust racing on a avenue circuit.”
Since retiring from fulltime Components 1 on the finish of 2016, Button has raced in Japan in Tremendous GT and dabbled in LMP1 sportscar prototypes, rallycross and even achieved some off-road racing.
“In F1 I received to a degree the place I wasn’t studying something new,” he displays of his profession. “I wished to attempt various things – I consider myself as a racing driver, not simply an F1 driver. I raced in Japan, which was super-competitive, I raced at Le Mans, I’ve achieved some Trophy Truck racing, the Baja 1000, and some different issues.
“I knew I’d like to attempt a inventory automobile, and I watched it for many years with my dad, we used to sit down down and watch it, and I beloved Dale Earnhardt, and clearly Tony [Stewart], Jeff [Gordon] and Jimmie [Johnson, his Garage 56 team-mate].
Button’s NASCAR journey is one in all many alternative motorsport disciplines he is tried since retiring from F1
Picture by: Xite Racing
“It jogs my memory of my karting days, the place the competitors is so shut. In F1, you make an overtaking transfer and it’s like ‘wow, somebody overtook!’ [Jenson punches the air for comic effect] And that’s what makes F1 thrilling, as a result of it’s so troublesome to overhaul. However in NASCAR, it’s similar to all-action, you undergo corners aspect by aspect the place you simply don’t suppose it’s potential. Flip three in COTA ought to by no means be aspect by aspect, however they’re throughout [the Esses].
“F1 is a implausible collection, nevertheless it’s not as household oriented as NASCAR is. I really like that about NASCAR – watching the Daytona 500 build-up, I used to be on a flight, and it was a three-hour build-up, and I noticed each driver with their households on the grid. It’s so cool, I actually like that.”
As we noticed when Kimi Raikkonen raced for Trackhouse’s Undertaking 91 squad at Watkins Glen final 12 months, along with his spouse and youngsters hanging round at pits, NASCAR’s relaxed and family-friendly environment will likely be a refreshing blast of recent air after F1’s suffocating environment.
“It was nice to see Kimi race [at Watkins Glen] and to listen to he’s coming back at the same race as me, so I’m going be head-to-head with him once more,” smiles Jenson. “While you see individuals like Kimi leap in, or [sportscar ace] Joey Hand, you see how aggressive this collection is. And I believe that simply will increase the curiosity within the sport.
“Everyone knows how troublesome it’s to shift from a high-downforce single-seater to a inventory automobile, and vice versa as Jimmie has proven within the final couple of years. When this chance arose, I referred to as Jimmie and mentioned, ‘ought to I do it?’ And he mentioned, ‘mate, you’ll have a blast’. In order that’s why I’m in! If Jimmie thinks it’ll be enjoyable, it’ll be enjoyable.”
And there’s not lengthy to attend, as Jenson will hit the monitor for observe in Austin in simply two weeks’ time, when he’ll lastly get to drop the hammer on his new NASCAR profession.
How will Button fare on his NASCAR debut?
Picture by: Storage 56
