McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton got the chance to try out some rather different high-speed machinery on Tuesday when he traded cars with double NASCAR Sprint Cup series champion Tony Stewart during a special promotional event organised by Mobil 1, at the Watkins Glen International circuit.Hamilton took charge of the No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet Impala NASCAR stock car at the American venue, while Stewart tried out McLaren’s MP4-23. Both the drivers enjoyed a few laps of the 3.4-mile, 11-turn track.
“I’d always wondered what it would be like to get behind the wheel of a NASCAR stock car, because it’s such a completely different experience from driving a Formula One car,” said Hamilton. “Thanks to Mobil 1, I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity today - not only did I get the chance to drive the car of Tony Stewart, a double NASCAR champion, but I also got to share that experience by giving him the chance to drive my Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula One car too.
“NASCAR is a different world. Driving the No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet was a massive change from what I’m used to, but Tony was an excellent teacher and I quickly found a good rhythm - those cars are raw and powerful! They’re fantastic fun to drive. It was a great day at Watkins Glen - this is a circuit with a great deal of Formula One history behind it: Emerson Fittipaldi won McLaren their first drivers’ and constructors’ titles here back in 1974 and it’s been fantastic to come here and take in some of that history.”
Stewart commented: “I’ve always been intrigued by the open wheel cars in Formula One racing. Feeling the power behind the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 was amazing and being able to take it for a ride around the course in front of a crowd of avid race fans at a track like The Glen made it even more special. An experience that I’ll never forget.”
A crowd of enthusiastic motorsport fans were in the stands to watch the swap.
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