Villeneuve To Race NASCAR in 2008
08-27-2007, 10:40 PM
#1
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Villeneuve To Race NASCAR in 2008
The latest to make the jump
JV set to join JPM in NASCAR in '08
Monday, 27, August, 2007, 13:05
Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve is set to join fellow Formula 1 exile Juan Pablo Montoya in NASCAR’s premier tier, the Nextel Cup in 2008.
The 1997 title winner last week confirmed his first step in the primarily oval-based stock car series when he announced he was to a test a Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra truck at Chicagoland, a car from the third level of the championship.
Team boss Davis has since announced that the Canadian will be one of his squad’s drivers in the top level of NASCAR next year.
To get him up to speed, following his first test the 36-year-old will compete in seven NASCAR truck races this season, with his debut in Las Vegas on September 22, with a view to a possible Nextel Cup debut before the end of the year.
"He'll be testing the next two, three weeks and his first truck race will be at Las Vegas in about three or four weeks," Davis told Autosport magazine’s website.
"Then he runs seven truck races, and one ARCA race at Talladega for sure.
“He'll do quite a bit of Car of Tomorrow testing and we might possibly run a [Nextel] Cup race, but that just remains to be seen."
Since splitting with BMW Sauber following the German Grand Prix last year, Villeneuve has largely taken time out to spend with his family and also competed in the 2007 Le Mans 24 Hours with the factory Peugeot team.
Monday, 27, August, 2007, 13:05
Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve is set to join fellow Formula 1 exile Juan Pablo Montoya in NASCAR’s premier tier, the Nextel Cup in 2008.
The 1997 title winner last week confirmed his first step in the primarily oval-based stock car series when he announced he was to a test a Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra truck at Chicagoland, a car from the third level of the championship.
Team boss Davis has since announced that the Canadian will be one of his squad’s drivers in the top level of NASCAR next year.
To get him up to speed, following his first test the 36-year-old will compete in seven NASCAR truck races this season, with his debut in Las Vegas on September 22, with a view to a possible Nextel Cup debut before the end of the year.
"He'll be testing the next two, three weeks and his first truck race will be at Las Vegas in about three or four weeks," Davis told Autosport magazine’s website.
"Then he runs seven truck races, and one ARCA race at Talladega for sure.
“He'll do quite a bit of Car of Tomorrow testing and we might possibly run a [Nextel] Cup race, but that just remains to be seen."
Since splitting with BMW Sauber following the German Grand Prix last year, Villeneuve has largely taken time out to spend with his family and also competed in the 2007 Le Mans 24 Hours with the factory Peugeot team.
08-27-2007, 11:17 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
This ought to turn up the rhetoric in the paddock. Between Jac, JPM and Tony Stewart there should be a good choir voicing critiques (mostly warranted, I think) of how NASCAR runs the "races".
So I guess we can expect to see Ralf Schumacher over here in about a year, eh? I can just see JPM calling up. "Come on over. You can actually roll your car here and keep driving! No more hydraulics failures, suspension failures or first corner melees. You can even scrape the entire side of your car off on somebody else and still finish the race."
So I guess we can expect to see Ralf Schumacher over here in about a year, eh? I can just see JPM calling up. "Come on over. You can actually roll your car here and keep driving! No more hydraulics failures, suspension failures or first corner melees. You can even scrape the entire side of your car off on somebody else and still finish the race."
08-28-2007, 10:22 PM
#3
Drifting
Bring'em On!
I think this will be great for NASCAR as a whole, many redneck fans will of course disagree 
Right now, and for the forseeable future, NASCAR has the best worldwide exposure to the casual race fan, potential sponsers, and media coverage. Makes sense for these guys to come on over. I would like to see them required to compete in more "Busch", or "Truck" series races before stepping up to the TOP TIER series. I'd like to see this for all drivers wanting to jump to NEXTAL CUP, not just the open wheel guys.
There are a few current NASCAR drivers that should really consider retirement, that would make room for more newcomers and more fans as well.
Right now, and for the forseeable future, NASCAR has the best worldwide exposure to the casual race fan, potential sponsers, and media coverage. Makes sense for these guys to come on over. I would like to see them required to compete in more "Busch", or "Truck" series races before stepping up to the TOP TIER series. I'd like to see this for all drivers wanting to jump to NEXTAL CUP, not just the open wheel guys.
There are a few current NASCAR drivers that should really consider retirement, that would make room for more newcomers and more fans as well.
08-28-2007, 10:37 PM
#4
Safety Car
Jac will need to change his tune - if he hasn't already. NASCAR is far more fan friendly than F1. JAC would hardly give intervieiws during his F1 years.
Ralf S. contacted Toro Rosso about a drive next year - according to Gerhard Berger (Team Principle).http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/...ed-toro-rosso/
NASCAR maybe?
Ralf S. contacted Toro Rosso about a drive next year - according to Gerhard Berger (Team Principle).http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/...ed-toro-rosso/
NASCAR maybe?
08-29-2007, 09:29 PM
#7
Drifting
