Kimi Raikkonen says he's paid up

by - 6/06/2011 02:35:00 p.m.

Former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen says there was a misunderstanding with Kyle Busch on the financial arrangement concerning Raikkonen's venture into NASCAR.

Busch said Thursday that Kyle Busch Motorsports was "supposed to receive so much, and we have not" in the deal to run in three to five Truck Series races.

Raikkonen said Saturday he has paid in full for driving Busch's truck last weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway and for driving a Nationwide Series car for Busch and Joe Nemechek Saturday at CMS.

He said further payment will depend on whether he drives another Truck Series race for Busch.

"I mean, it's a situation we paid," Raikkonen said after qualifying 22nd for Saturday's race. "Who knows if we want to do more."

Todd Hirschfeld, who manages Raikkonen's racing efforts in the United States, said Raikkonen's situation changed when he added the Nationwide race to the schedule. "It was taken out of context. Kimi doesn't know what he wants to do, but everything so far has been paid for."

There has been speculation that Raikkonen, after finishing 15th in his Truck Series debut, is ready to speed up his NASCAR progression and will make his Sprint Cup debut next month at the road course in Sonoma, Calif. He tested one of Robby Gordon's Cup cars earlier this week at Virginia International Speedway.

Hirschfeld said he has been told nothing of Raikkonen's plans. Raikkonen said he will return to Europe after Saturday's race.

"I have other things to do," he said Friday. "After that, I don't know when I will be back. I have a rally in Greece and some other rallies." source

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