Daniel Ricciardo has an extra reason to be pleased with his victory at the Italian Grand Prix, as the Australian can now claim the very special bonus promised to him if he scored a podium finish. Ahead of the 2021 season, McLaren CEO Zak Brown told Ricciardo that, if he ended a race in the top three, he could drive Dale Earnhardt's No3 Chevrolet, which features in Brown's extensive collection of historic road and racing cars. Ricciardo, who also races with the number 3, grew up as a huge fan of NASCAR racer Earnhardt and is already looking forward to getting the chance to try out his famous vehicle. "Maybe he gives me the car," Ricciardo joked to select media including RacingNews365.com . "Because I think it was always the podium, you get to drive it. We've never talked about a win! "I gave him my shoe that he drank out of [on the podium], so maybe he gives me the car. It's a good trade. "Dale Earnhardt [is a] big hero of mine and to have a chance to get behind the wheel of one of his cars is crazy. That will certainly be a kind of 'pinch me' moment." Alongside his excitement about driving Earnhardt's car, Ricciardo also found himself thinking about the connection to Ayrton Senna following the victory at Monza, given that Senna won all of his F1 World Championships with the McLaren team. "I'm sorry if I sound a bit self-absorbed right now, but I think McLaren, I think Senna," the 32-year-old said. "That's the early memories. "I've seen the trophies in the cabinet at the MTC [McLaren Technology Centre], and to have a winning trophy now with my name in pretty much the same cabinet is crazy. "So these are like two little things which I certainly appreciate, and they're kind of two little surreal moments that I guess have hit me."
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