Global Sports Car Ace Kobayashi To Race in Verizon 200 at the Brickyard
June 07, 2023 | By Indianapolis Motor Speedway
World Endurance Championship title winner and 24 Hours of Le Mans overall winner Kamui Kobayashi of Japan will drive for 23XI Racing in the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard on Sunday, Aug. 13 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Kobayashi will drive the No. 67 Toyota Genuine Parts Camry in his NASCAR Cup Series debut on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile circuit at IMS. 23XI is co-owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan and NASCAR Cup Series star Denny Hamlin.
“NASCAR is something different in the culture of motorsports compared to Japan and Europe – as a driver, it's the American dream," Kobayashi said. "I was lucky to be able to race in IMSA the last couple of years.
“(NASCAR) is a different form of racing, but I think the racing technology is at a high level. I really appreciate this opportunity from TRD, U.S.A. and, of course, Toyota Motor North America and Toyota Gazoo Racing. Toyota has been racing in NASCAR for a long time, but I don't think any other Japanese driver has raced a Toyota in the Cup Series. I'm very proud of this opportunity.”
Kobayashi drives for and is the team principal for Toyota Gazoo Racing in the WEC sports car championship. He will be behind the wheel of the team’s No. 7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid prototype Saturday and Sunday in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans with co-drivers Jose Maria Lopez and former INDYCAR SERIES race winner Mike Conway.
Japan native Kobayashi made 75 F1 starts between 2009-14 for Toyota, Sauber and Caterham. His best finish was third in 2012 with Sauber.
Kobayashi found more success in sports cars. He was part of the championship-winning Toyota team in WEC in the 2019-20 season, repeating that success in the Hypercar division in 2021. Kobayashi also drove for the winning overall Toyota team in the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans along with Conway and Lopez.
The addition of Kobayashi increases the international appeal of the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard. 2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button announced in March he is driving in the race in the No. 15 Ford Mustang fielded by Rick Ware Racing, with marketing and promotional support provided by Stewart Haas Racing, co-owned by two-time Brickyard 400 winner Tony Stewart.
Visit IMS.com for tickets and more information on the Brickyard Weekend, which also includes the Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard for the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the Gallagher Grand Prix for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES on Saturday, Aug. 12.