Button, 43, is driving the No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford Mustang with assist from Stewart-Haas Racing.
In the one 50-minute observe session this weekend, he ran 13 complete laps and went twenty eighth quickest out of 39 entries. He was 1.770s off pace-setter Tyler Reddick, however forward of fellow F1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen by about half a second.
His steep studying curve started even earlier than exiting the Cup Sequence storage.
“I imply to start with … A bit bit anxious however excited on the identical time,” he admitted throughout a Friday press convention on the observe. “I forgot how you can begin the automobile which was fascinating. So that they pushed the automobile again, and I’m like ‘It received’t begin.’ There have been just a few different switches I needed to put up. However then it was okay.
“I received onto the circuit and I used to be stunned by how little grip there was initially once I pulled away and the tires have been chilly. However, it involves you over time. The gear shifting is one thing that … I’ve not by no means pushed a sequential gearbox automobile. I’ve by no means pulled again going by the gears and pushed to go down. It’s one thing fully new to study. I’ve pushed a handbook gearbox, however you at all times go throughout the field. The final time I drove a gearbox like this was like in 1999. There’s quite a bit that you simply return into the financial institution of information you’ve discovered through the years, and also you deliver it out once more. It involves you fairly fast. I actually loved it.”
Button additionally famous how distinctive of an expertise it was for him to have a spotter guiding him all through the session: “It’s additionally fascinating having spotters. I’ve by no means had spotters earlier than. So, I’ve received guys in my ear the entire method round telling me there’s site visitors behind, there’s site visitors in entrance – it’s fairly soothing. I type of prefer it. Our spotters have very soothing voices, which I believe is sweet and it’s particularly going to be good on Sunday when it’s manic on the market. That’s one thing else to study – having my mirrors, so I can see round me. However they inform me all of the enjoyable details about what’s occurring round me.”
He later added: “As I observed right here in observe, individuals don’t transfer out of the best way once they’re on a gradual lap and also you’re on a fast lap. There’s quite a bit to study. It’s a really, very totally different sports activities than what I’m used to.”
Jenson Button, Rick Ware Racing Ford Mustang
Photograph by: True Velocity PR
COTA is the primary of three deliberate Cup begins this 12 months for Button. He can even race on the Chicago Avenue Course on July 2nd and on the Indianapolis Highway Course on August thirteenth.
Though he wasn’t very fast in observe, he stays excited in regards to the problem at hand. He hopes for a strong weekend general and to enhance with each lap of competitors.
“I get to race towards 30 different loopy guys on the market,” he mentioned. “I’m actually, actually wanting ahead to the problem – and it undoubtedly is a giant problem. Leaping within the automobile for a 50-minute observe session – and that’s it – earlier than we go qualifying and racing. It’s robust I believe for anybody who shouldn’t be used to large, heavy vehicles with low downforce. I’m having fun with the method. The workforce has been nice, and I’m wanting ahead to , strong weekend. The automobile felt fairly good on the market, and I believe tomorrow in qualifying – when it actually counts to get a lap in – there’s a bit extra strain. We’ll see the way it goes. Setup smart working with my guys, enhancing it.
“Yeah, we’re moving into the suitable path.”
Button’s subsequent problem shall be NASCAR Cup qualifying on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. EST. The sector is break up into two teams, with the 5 quickest from every advancing into the ultimate spherical the place they may struggle for pole. He shall be a part of the primary group, which incorporates three former Cup Sequence champions.
