“Huge asset” Button adds NASCAR Garage 56 driver change hurdle
Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button’s vast experience of European racing is proving a big help to the NASCAR Garage 56 project – but his height is making driver changes trickier.
Button got his first seat time at Daytona in the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 that Hendrick Motorsports will take to the Le Mans 24 Hours in June on Tuesday.
Project leader Chad Knaus explained that Button has already proved a useful addition to the team, given his previous high-level international racing exploits, but his height meant it would provide an additional challenge when it comes to driver changes with the shorter Jimmie Johnson and Mike Rockenfeller.
Unlike European racing series, NASCAR machinery does not have doors, and drivers enter and exit the car through the window.
“[Before today] we’ve had him in the sim, we’ve had him in for driver fitment,” said Knaus. “One of the things that we’re learning pretty quickly is that a NASCAR-style car is not great for driver swaps.
“We’ve got one guy who’s almost 6’1” [Button] and one who’s 5’8” [Rockenfeller] so that’s a bit of a challenge that we’re working through, and obviously safety is of the upmost importance to us. Getting all of that squared away with the driver change itself.
“Obviously Jenson brings a wealth of knowledge about speed limiters and pit road speeds, buttons and all of those things, he’s going to be a huge asset to us from that perspective.”
Jenson Button
Photo by: Garage 56
When asked to explain his rationale for adding Button to the roster, Knaus – who scored 81 wins together with Johnson as his crew chief in NASCAR Cup competition – explained he was in a dream scenario to find his “perfect mixture”.
“When it started, we wanted to have guys or gals who we considered to be elite,” he added. “We’ve talked to a lot of different drivers, from a lot of different genres, and ending up where we did is a perfect mixture that you could ever ask for to go drive this thing and represent NASCAR at Le Mans.”
Knaus also revealed that Button was impressed with the size and scale of the Hendrick facility in Concord, NC – which he wanted to see for himself after being sent a video of a drone flying through its headquarters that boasts 17 different buildings.
“Ever since he walked on to campus, he was impressed with what we’ve got,’ said Knaus. “Obviously, under Jeff [Andrews]’s leadership, he’s built a pretty impressive place right there.
“Truth be told, Jenson came to the Sebring test a few weeks ago, he took the redeye out just so he could see and watch, and he looked at the car, sat in the car, and saw what we were doing.
“You could just tell his jaw dropped, he said ‘this is a proper effort right now’. After that, I sent him the hype video where the drone flies through Hendrick Motorsports and he sent me a text back saying, ‘you’ve got to be kidding me!’ I was like ‘yeah man, this is where we work’.”
Button: Garage 56 entry will show “true NASCAR” at Le Mans 24 Hours
Acura aces hope Daytona 24 1-2 changes Honda's Le Mans outlook
Harvick: NASCAR drivers’ code is “not what it used to be”
Harvick: NASCAR drivers’ code is “not what it used to be” Harvick: NASCAR drivers’ code is “not what it used to be”
How NASCAR stars taught F1 veterans a big lesson in racecraft
How NASCAR stars taught F1 veterans a big lesson in racecraft How NASCAR stars taught F1 veterans a big lesson in racecraft
How Porsche's Daytona hiccups evoked the premiere of its Group C king
How Porsche's Daytona hiccups evoked the premiere of its Group C king How Porsche's Daytona hiccups evoked the premiere of its Group C king
Starting numbers for the 2023 Isle of Man TT Superbike races revealed
Starting numbers for the 2023 Isle of Man TT Superbike races revealed Starting numbers for the 2023 Isle of Man TT Superbike races revealed
Harvick: NASCAR drivers’ code is “not what it used to be”
Harvick: NASCAR drivers’ code is “not what it used to be” Harvick: NASCAR drivers’ code is “not what it used to be”
KTM MotoGP bike ‘less physical’ than Ducati was, says Miller
KTM MotoGP bike ‘less physical’ than Ducati was, says Miller KTM MotoGP bike ‘less physical’ than Ducati was, says Miller
How Fallows has fostered an "Aston Martin way" to boost F1 team
How Fallows has fostered an "Aston Martin way" to boost F1 team How Fallows has fostered an "Aston Martin way" to boost F1 team
The plug in and play stand-ins who got their timing just right
The plug in and play stand-ins who got their timing just right The plug in and play stand-ins who got their timing just right
The lesser-remembered sportscar exploits of BMW's two-trick pony
The lesser-remembered sportscar exploits of BMW's two-trick pony The lesser-remembered sportscar exploits of BMW's two-trick pony
Porsche’s hopeful Le Mans future meets its illustrious past
Porsche’s hopeful Le Mans future meets its illustrious past Porsche’s hopeful Le Mans future meets its illustrious past
How Porsche's Le Mans legend changed the game
How Porsche's Le Mans legend changed the game How Porsche's Le Mans legend changed the game
Why BMW shouldn't be overlooked on its return to prototypes
Why BMW shouldn't be overlooked on its return to prototypes Why BMW shouldn't be overlooked on its return to prototypes
How Formula E's double-duty drivers influenced their Le Mans teams' fortunes
How Formula E's double-duty drivers influenced their Le Mans teams' fortunes How Formula E's double-duty drivers influenced their Le Mans teams' fortunes
Le Mans 2022: The team by team guide
Le Mans 2022: The team by team guide Le Mans 2022: The team by team guide
The great Le Mans garagistes that challenged factory might
The great Le Mans garagistes that challenged factory might The great Le Mans garagistes that challenged factory might
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.