Raikkonen to make truck debut tonight

CONCORD, N.C. -- CONCORD

Who knew Formula One racing was a stepping stone to the NASCAR Truck Series?

The series picks up its second former F1 driving star this week when 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen makes his debut in tonight's N.C. Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (8 p.m., Speed).

The 31-year-old Finnish driver is driving the No. 15 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports in what is - at least for now - a one-race deal.

Former F1 driver Nelson Piquet Jr. drives full time in Trucks this season with Kevin Harvick Inc. and already has a runner-up finish at Nashville to his credit.

"We're honored that Kimi has chosen to start his career in NASCAR with us," Busch said. "Adding one of the most talented drivers in the world is a continuation of building a team of proven winners and champions at KBM."

Raikkonen left Formula One and the Ferrari factory team after the 2009 season and has been competing in the World Rally Championship since.

"I'm excited to do my first-ever NASCAR race; it will be fun to compete against other drivers on the track again," said Raikkonen, referring to racing against the clock in World Rally Cars. "This is a new experience for me - let's see what happens."

The most recent former F1 driver to move to NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, Juan Pablo Montoya, thinks Raikkonen will be successful.

"He's a cool guy and I think he will fit right in. It'll be a tough transition but if he dedicates his time to these cars he should be OK," Montoya said.

Asked what advice he would give the Finn, Montoya said: "Keep working at it and listen to the advice people give you. Ask questions and spend as much time behind the wheel, getting seat time, as you can."

Bayne to skip All-Star race and Iowa

Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne will not race this weekend, sitting out both the All-Star race and the Nationwide Series event in Iowa.

Bayne spent a week at the Mayo Clinic undergoing treatment for what doctors have called an inflammatory condition. He has not raced since April at Talladega.

"Although we would like for Trevor to be on the track this weekend, we want to make sure that he is fully back to prime condition before he goes out to compete with the best drivers in the world," Roush Fenway Racing president Steve Newmark said Thursday.

"He has been undergoing tests and out of his routine for almost a month now. With that disruption in his schedule, he has not been able to take part in our daily training activities and he's going to need a little more time to get acclimated to the strenuous demands of a NASCAR racing schedule."

Newmark said the team will not race Bayne until he is 100 percent healthy.

Bayne was scheduled to drive in Saturday night's All-Star race for the Wood Brothers. The team will not enter the car in the $1 million race, and RFR will not use a replacement driver for Bayne at Iowa.

Danica won't commit to returning to IndyCar

INDIANAPOLIS Danica Patrick might be preparing for her last Indianapolis 500.

Rumors that Patrick would jump to NASCAR have dogged her for years and even have been acknowledged by IndyCar officials. The 29-year-old, who has driven in both IndyCar and the NASCAR Nationwide series this year and last, was vague when asked about her plans Thursday.

"I suppose anything is possible," she said. "But I know for me, I haven't made any of those decisions yet."

Patrick's success as a female driver has made her the face of the IndyCar Series since 2005, even though she has just one win in 98 tries. The pressure she has put on herself has reached a peak heading into the Indy 500 on May 29.

"Actually, I feel like I get more nervous every year," she said. "I'm more nervous coming into it this year than last year. Maybe it's because you're getting older and on some level you think you have less of them to do, I don't know."

Power turns fastest lap

INDIANAPOLIS Practice for the Indianapolis 500 resumed Thursday after being rained out Tuesday and Wednesday.

Will Power topped the speed chart about 10 minutes left in the session, turning a lap at 227.778 mph. The Australian star has won two of the first four IndyCar races of the season, all on road or street courses.

Alex Tagliani was second at 227.652 after leading much of the day.

It was only the second day out of six that the weather fully cooperated. Three days of practice have been rained out and one shortened.

Swiss driver Simona De Silvestro crashed early in the session and sustained burns to both hands. Her status for qualifying Saturday is uncertain.