Ricciardo shows Dale Earnhardt Sr tribute helmet for US GP weekend
McLaren driver Ricciardo looked up to Earnhardt when he was once a minute one, adopting the well-known #3 as his like racing number when he made it to System 1.
Ricciardo was once promised by McLaren boss Zak Brown that he would possibly per chance drive Earnhardt’s 1984 Chevrolet Monte Carlo from his non-public series when he scored his first podium for the team.
By winning the Italian Huge Prix at Monza ultimate month, Ricciardo acquired the wager, ensuing in demo runs in the NASCAR stock automobile being scheduled for this weekend in Austin.
“I’m very chuffed to be assist,” Ricciardo mentioned on Thursday. “Or now not it’s been 24 lengthy and sad months with out Austin in my existence. Or now not it’s miles a upright time, and I impact web to drive the Earnhardt automobile this weekend. Zak bought it out from Europe to raise it here. There’s been a upright effort put aside into that, so I’m very furious.
Adding to the Earnhardt theme for the weekend, Ricciardo’s Dale Sr tribute helmet form was once revealed on Friday ahead of opening practice at the Circuit of the Americas at Austin, Texas.
The style retains the sad outrageous made well-known by Earnhardt and aspects a the same sponsor structure, to boot to Ricciardo’s signature and number on the front of the helmet.
Ricciardo is one of a necessity of drivers taking income of the Austin recede weekend to make exercise of a diversified helmet form, with most choosing an American theme.
McLaren teammate Lando Norris will recede with a stars and stripes form, incorporating the retro McLaren ‘M’ logo the team is the usage of this weekend.
Fellow Briton George Russell saved his helmet Texas-themed with a sheriff badge form on a wood-coloured background.
2019 United States Huge Prix winner Valtteri Bottas paid tribute to all issues Austin with a boulevard art form by his lady friend, Tiffany Cromwell.
Amongst the diversified drivers racing with one-off helmets are Haas’s Nikita Mazepin, who incorporated rattlesnakes, a horseshoe and cowboy hats into his form, and Yuki Tsunoda, who was once as a result of debut an autumnal helmet in Japan sooner than the recede was once cancelled.