@nascarcasm: Meet Kimi Räikkönen, Cup Series rookie

Let us teach you all about the greatness that is Kimi Räikkönen, who will make his Cup Series debut on Sunday at Watkins Glen International.

If you’re already familiar with the legend that is Kimi Räikkönen, feel free to look at this as a refresher course. But if you’re unfamiliar with this amazing yet stoic Formula 1 superstar that will be piloting the Project 91 car for Trackhouse Racing this weekend at Watkins Glen, allow us to teach you all about him. Consider it a WiKimiPedia.

WHO IS KIMI?: Quite frankly, Formula 1 royalty. Räikkönen’s Formula 1 career spans two decades from 2001 to 2021. During that time, he competed for five different teams – Sauber, McLaren, Ferrari, Lotus and Alfa Romeo, and spoke approximately 28 words.

IS HE A CHAMPION?: You bet he is. Räikkönen won the FIA Formula One World Championship in 2007. He entered the final race of the season, The Brazilian Grand Prix, third in points behind Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, but managed to win the championship by a single point over Hamilton.

SO HE’S REALLY GOOD?: Correct. In his Formula 1 career, he’s had 21 race wins and 103 podium finishes. He’s one of five drivers in Formula one to have earned more than 100. Respect this man.

WHERE’S HE FROM?: Kimi hails from Espoo, Finland, and is winningest Finnish driver in Formula 1 history. And before you ask, he’s probably heard the “Finnish line” joke you’re planning on telling him this weekend already. And he’s not the kind of guy who will laugh at it politely. He’ll just glare at you.

WHERE’D HE GET HIS NICKNAME “THS ICEMAN” FROM?: There are many interpretations. It could be because he hails from Scandinavia, which is cold. It could refer to how he seems to never get rattled on the track (Unless his drinking mechanism isn’t working – more on that later). Or, well, just search “Kimi Räikkönen Interview Highlights” on YouTube and see for yourself.

HAS HE RACED ANYWHERE ELSE?: Sure has. During some contract weirdness during 2010 and 2011, Räikkönen left Formula 1 and raced in the World Rally Championship. He returned to Formula 1 in 2012.

DIDN’T HE RACE IN THE CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES?: Yes he did. Kimi traveled to Charlotte in 2011, racing for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Under the tutelage of Kyle, KFR finished 15th.

SO HE’S NOT ENTIRELY NEW TO NASCAR? Nope. In fact, he raced in an Xfinity Series race the following weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway for Joe Nemechek. He’d finish 27th, but we did get this picture of Kiki Räikkönen and Joe Nemechek together, which I assure you is not something we had on our 2011 bingo card.

WHAT SORT OF REFERENCES WILL BE MADE ABOUT KIMI ON SOCIAL MEDIA DURING THE RACE FOR WHICH I WILL NEED SOME CONTEXT? The most frequently used joke you’ll see on Twitter will probably be something along the lines of Kimi “Having the drink.” Strap in – this is a long explanation. During the 2018 Hungarian Grand Prix, it became apparent that his team had not properly attached his in-car drinking mechanism. This led to a rather hilarious radio communication during which a thirsty Räikkönen had to be informed by his team that it wasn’t working. The money quote from his team? “You will not have the drink.” The rest is history.

I’VE HEARD HE’S QUIET. IS THAT TRUE?: Kind of. It’s not that he never speaks. It’s that his answers are, shall we say, not verbose. Once, on “Top Gear,” host Jeremy Clarkson mentioned how many drivers find significance in their racing helmets and asked Kimi how important it was to him. His response – “It protects my head.” This man has a 140-character limit when he speaks and we respect that.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE KIMI MOMENT?: The instances of him saying something quick and hilarious is a 50-slide gallery unto itself. Therefore I’m going to go with the 2017 Spanish Grand Prix. His race ended early, with a Turn 1 shunt breaking his steering box. The cameras caught a very despondent young man in the stands, crying that his driver had retired so early. His day would do a complete 180 soon – he was brought to the Ferrari paddock area, where Kimi met the young man, gave him his hat and took a picture with him. Kimi’s quiet, but actions speak louder than words anyways.

ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO KNOW?: Only that Kimi Räikkönen is a Formula 1 legend, a massive worldwide name, and it’s a huge honor to have him competing in the Cup Series. Kudos to Justin Marks and Trackhouse for starting Project 91 and making this a reality. Oh, that and after he retired early from the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix, he walked directly to his yacht in the harbor and watched the rest of the race from the jacuzzi.