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Haas F1 drivers Grosjean, Magnussen to sample NASCAR at F1's US GP

Haas Formula 1 drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen will drive a NASCAR machine with the support of three-time Cup champion Tony Stewart during the United States Grand Prix weekend

Grosjean and Magnussen will sample the #14 Ford Mustang used by the Stewart-Haas Racing NASCAR team, which Stewart co-owns.

The car will be equipped with a passenger seat so Stewart can guide the two F1 drivers, and Stewart previously gave Magnussen a run in a sprint car, as seen in the Netflix Drive to Survive series.

Magnussen's closed-cockpit experience includes a test at Jerez in 2015 driving a Mercedes DTM car.

"A DTM car is very aerodynamic," Magnussen said. "They have a lot of downforce. A stock car hardly has any downforce. So, I don't have any idea how it'll be.

"I've never driven a NASCAR before. I'm pretty certain it's going to be very different to the other cars I drive around COTA.

"A NASCAR is such an iconic race car. I've always been eager to try one. Of course, it's usually in its element on an oval, but they do race on road courses, as well. It'll be interesting to have a go and have a bit of fun.

"I found my feet in that sprint car last October pretty quickly thanks to [Tony's] advice, and also thanks to him jumping in the car and showing how it's done before I got in.

"I had a great time with Tony. He's a great driving instructor and he knows his way around these things.

"His experience and knowledge when it comes to stock cars is probably just as impressive."

Grosjean has sportscar experience, notably racing at Le Mans in 2010, while he was on the F1 sidelines after he was dropped by Renault.

"I think we just need to slam the brakes a bit earlier than we do with a Formula 1 car," he said.

"We'll see how the engine responds to throttle application. I can't wait. The sound of it's going to be great.

"I think it's going to be a good experience. I think having Tony Stewart helping us and giving us advice is going to be bloody amazing."

Stewart's run in the Mustang will be his first time in a stock car since the Cup Series finale at Homestead in 2016.

Since leaving the Cup Series, alongside his team ownership role, Stewart has returned to his roots in sprint car racing - winning 16 times since 2017.

"It's kind of hard to believe that it's been three years since I last drove a stock car," he said. "But seeing some of these road-course races - especially the Roval at Charlotte - have piqued my interest a bit, so this is a good way to sort of satisfy that hunger.

"I've never been to COTA. All I know about it is what I've seen on TV and my iRacing simulator. I kind of like that.

"Even after two decades in NASCAR, there's still new stuff to experience. I haven't driven that racetrack and Kevin and Romain haven't ever driven a stock car. We'll figure it out together."

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