AUSTIN, Texas >> Kimi Raikkonen has already sprayed champagne from the winner’s podium at the Circuit of Americas.

That was in 2018, when he wore Ferrari red and scored the final victory of his long Formula One career at the United States Grand Prix.

The Finn is back in Texas, but in a much different car in a much different series with very different racing styles.

Raikkonen and fellow former F1 champion Jenson Button will drive Sunday in NASCAR’s first road course race of 2023. Raikkonen won the F1 championship in 2007.

England’s Button won it two years later. They have 36 career F1 victories between them.

“It’s nice to be back,” Raikkonen said Saturday. “It’s a lovely place here in Texas.”

Raikkonen will driving Trackhouse Racing’s Project91 entry that is designed to give a seat in NASCAR to drivers from others disciplines. Button will drive the No. 15 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing.

Many of the regular NASCAR drivers welcome the Europeans.

Ryan Blaney said he wants to meet Button because he was a huge fan as a kid. Cup eries leader Joey Logano is impressed they are climbing into cars that must feel unusual.

“We don’t ever get the opportunity to stack up against those guys. They grow up racing completely different cars in different countries,” Logano said. “Put me in an F1 car and I’m going to be lost. It’s great for our sport.”

And there’s another “road course ringer” in the field: Sports car driver Jordan Taylor makes his NASCAR debut with Hendrick Motorsports. He qualified fourth driving for injured Chase Elliott, who is still recovering from fractured tibia in a snowboarding accident.

“Jordan is really strong,” said William Byron, a two-time winner this season who qualified in pole position for Sunday. “It’s impressive. The other guys too.”