Hamilton to drive Cup Car at Watkins Glen

[countersteer]

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/ ... xhibition/

Lewis Hamilton is set to drive a premier NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car for the first time later in 2011.

American sports network ESPN reports that the McLaren driver will swap his Formula One car for two-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart's Chevrolet.

The exhibition, organized by mutual sponsor Mobil 1, is set to take place some time in the summer at the famous Watkins Glen road course in New York.

The car provided by McLaren for the swap will be the British team's 2010 model MP4-25, the report said.

Stewart-Haas Racing spokesman Mike Arning confirmed the report.

It sounds similar to what Jeff Gordon and Montoya did years ago which eventually led to Montoya taking a Cup ride. Kind of doubt Hamilton will follow the same path.

He should practice driving the transport for training purposes...

[Jersey Tom]

Oh I can't wait to see this... and I'll be doing my best to have our cars set up to beat him

Edit.. guess this is just an exhibition not for the race. Shame!

[Formula None]

This is interesting in light of people's opinions on Webber's cycling and Kubica's rallying...

Edit.. guess this is just an exhibition not for the race. Shame!

That's lame. In related news, McLaren are insisting on double tire wall thicknesses and that the car be filled with pillows.

[Pup]

Never mind.

[Paul]

Driving a race car on a race course for exhibition is probably a million times safer than driving a Skoda Fabia or cycling to your nearest shop to buy a pack of milk.

[bhall]

I'll preface this by saying that I'm bigger than Tony Stewart. But, he's not exactly slight.

Can he fit into an F1 car?

[wrcsti]

I'll preface this by saying that I'm bigger than Tony Stewart. But, he's not exactly slight.

Can he fit into an F1 car?

Now that I want to see. Tony stewart fan since when he was a skinny brat that punched everything that moved. We were actually thinking of flying out to that track for the race, maybe we can see it first hand depending on the day.

[Pup]

I'll preface this by saying that I'm bigger than Tony Stewart. But, he's not exactly slight.

Can he fit into an F1 car?

MP4-25/EEE

[countersteer]

Can he fit into an F1 car?

Rumor has it that he's been on a weight loss and fitness kick. If not, it could prove to be embarrassing. I don't know if Montoya can still fit in an F1 car...

[jon-mullen]

This is interesting in light of people's opinions on Webber's cycling and Kubica's rallying...

The Sprint Cup cars are pretty safe.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgDqGkeAlII[/youtube]

He raced the next day.

[Shrek]

I'm wondering if this is because next year NASCAR will use McLaren electronics CPU for the fuel injection

[wrcsti]

I'm wondering if this is because next year NASCAR will use McLaren electronics CPU for the fuel injection

Its because they both have Mobil1 sponsors.

[Richard]

The 25 is less than 2 years old, it will have to be on demo tyres and speed restricted

[speedsense]

Unlike Jeff Gordon, didn't Stewart drive an Indy car a couple of times?

Stewart's going to have his hands full, going off the road at Watkin's is not like going off the road at INDY and Watkin's doesn't even have a level 1 or 2 FIA rating. Might end up being an expensive exhibition, wonder who pays any crash damage? Seems the F1 car is a little more expensive than the Cup car

[Sean H]

Unlike Jeff Gordon, didn't Stewart drive an Indy car a couple of times?

Stewart's going to have his hands full, going off the road at Watkin's is not like going off the road at INDY and Watkin's doesn't even have a level 1 or 2 FIA rating. Might end up being an expensive exhibition, wonder who pays any crash damage? Seems the F1 car is a little more expensive than the Cup car

Tony did more than "drive a couple times"... He did win the IRL title in '97

I would assume that LH will have a harder time staying on the blacktop in a car that is 3 times heavier with nearly zero downforce against Tony going to the lighter/higher downforce car... that being said, I doubt either is going to push it for anything more than some good promo shots for Mobil 1, who is footing the bill for all of this.