Jenson Button: “If we finish ahead of the GT cars, we will have done an incredible job”
The 2009 Formula 1 world champion is participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the second time. This year, he is driving the modified Nascar from Garage 56. He shares his first impressions and expectations for the race.
(I) I love the sound, its look, and the challenge. (F) Jenson Button doesn’t hide his pleasure after his first laps at Le Mans with this modified Nascar car. For his second participation here, the 2009 F1 world champion teams up with Jimmie Johnson and Mike Rockenfeller.
Although he has already driven a NASCAR car, the Garage 56 model for the 24 hours is completely different. It is lighter, more powerful, and more aerodynamic. « It’s amazing to take the base of a NASCAR and build something so fast,” assures Jenson Button. « It’s faster and easier to drive than a NASCAR. When I drove this car, it was a surprise. I then got behind the wheel of a NASCAR before coming back to this one, and it feels like driving a Formula 1 car (laughs). »
» It’s like driving a Formula 1 car
The initial time trials show the speed of this American car. During the qualifying rounds, the GTE-AM cars were four to five seconds slower. « I didn’t expect to be ahead of the GT cars. During the tests, we were one second faster, so we thought we would be in the pack. In the end, we are five seconds faster. »
The British driver believes that in racing, life won’t be as easy. First, because the pace of the Nascar race is closer to GT. « We have a faster car, so theoretically we can finish ahead of the GT, but it’s not that simple. At each pit stop, we use the manual jack, which can easily cause us to lose time. We will have to change the brakes, which takes us five minutes compared to one for the others. »
The dreaded rain
The world champion with Brawn GP dreads the rain that could come this Saturday, June 10th. In these conditions, the power of the Chevrolet could be lacking. « The return to [turn] Indianapolis will be more tricky. But, there are three of us who can set consistent lap times. If we manage to finish and do it ahead of the GT cars, we will have done an incredible job. »
