Lewis Hamilton and Tony Stewart in: Mobil 1™ Car Swap
On 14 June 2011, Formula 1™ World Champion driver Lewis Hamilton and two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart exchanged cars at the Mobil 1 Car Swap, an exhibition held at the legendary Watkins Glen International circuit, NY.
In front of a crowd of enthusiastic race fans and motorsports journalists from around the globe, Hamilton took laps in Stewart's No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet Impala, while Stewart climbed into the cockpit of the team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23. The drivers each en-joyed a few laps around the long course at The Glen, experiencing the 3.4-mile, 11-turn lap circuit.
"Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Stewart Haas Racing both rely on Mobil 1 lubricant technology to gain a com-petitive edge every time they hit the track," said Rebecca K. Aldred, Mobil 1 global brand manager, ExxonMobil Lubricants & Specialties. "Today's friendly exhibition represented a tremendous opportunity for us to bring Lewis and Tony — two of our premier drivers — together to experience the demands of driving completely different types of race cars at a legendary track like Watkins Glen, and to remind racing fans of Mobil 1 team's commitment and involvement in motorsports worldwide."
Hamilton and Stewart, known for their outstanding car control and sustained success across a number of racing disciplines before reaching Formula 1™ and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series respectively, have eagerly anticipated the chance to give up their seat to a fellow champion.
"I'd always wondered what it would be like to get behind the wheel of a NASCAR stock car, because it's such a completely different experience from driving a Formula 1 car", said Hamilton. "Thanks to Mobil 1, I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity today — not only did I get the chance to drive the car of Tony Stewart, a double NASCAR champion, but I also got to share that experience by giving him the chance to drive my Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 car too. NASCAR is a different world. Driving the No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet was a massive change from what I'm used to, but Tony was an excellent teacher and I quickly found a good rhythm — those cars are raw and powerful! They're fantastic fun to drive. It was a great day at Watkins Glen — this is a circuit with a great deal of Formula 1 history behind it: Emerson Fittipaldi won McLaren their first drivers' and constructors' titles here back in 1974 and it's been fantastic to come here and take in some of that history."
Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart said, "I've always been intrigued by the open wheel cars in Formula 1 racing. Feeling the power behind the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 was amazing and being able to take it for a ride around the course in front of a crowd of avid race fans at a track like The Glen made it even more special. An experience that I'll never forget."
With over 30 years of supporting motorsports excellence, Mobil 1 has been Vodafone McLaren Mercedes' engine lubricant of choice for the past 17 years and the "Official Motor Oil of NASCAR" for nine consecutive years.
Find out more amazing stories and Like us at the Mobil 1™ Facebook page