Kenseth gets used to new car, earns win

Times wires
Saturday, May 28, 2011

CONCORD, N.C. — Matt Ken­seth, starting in unfamiliar territory, passed Roush Fenway teammate Carl Edwards with two laps to go to win the Nationwide Top Gear 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday.

Kyle Busch was third and Roush Fenway's Ricky Stenhouse fourth to move within a point of series leader Elliott Sadler.

Kenseth filled in for Trevor Bayne, out with an inflammatory condition, in the No. 16 Ford. The Sprint Cup regular entered with 25 Nationwide wins but none since the series shifted to a new car. He said he felt comfortable after a few laps.

"You have to drive them a little different because of the horsepower difference," Kenseth said. "But they're really a lot like the Cup car."

Kenseth was more comfortable than former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen, who finished four laps down in 27th. A week after finishing 15th in his NASCAR debut in the truck series, he found trouble throughout.

Raikkonen started 22nd and complained early of his No. 87 Toyota being tight. He didn't wear heat shields on his shoes and said his feet were burning. He scraped a wall, and his first green-flag pit stop in NASCAR competition ended with a speeding violation.

Raikkonen's next step is uncertain. "I have to go back to Europe and do some rallies," said Raikkonen, who is not scheduled for another NASCAR race. "And then we'll see what happens."

F1: Sergio Perez will miss today's Monaco Grand Prix after sustaining a concussion and a thigh injury in a qualifying crash. Tied for 13th in points, he lost control of his car, the front slamming into a tunnel barrier and the car spinning into a tire wall. Points leader Sebastian Vettel earned the pole. His lap of 1 minute, 13.556 seconds, edged Jenson Button (1:13.997).

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/kenseth-gets-used-to-new-car-earns-win/1172449

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