J. Villeneuve Same Song, Same Tune
Jacques Villeneuve is determined that his future remains in NASCAR, despite losing his ride this season, and is pushing for a full-time drive in the Sprint Cup next year.
The 1997 world champion, who will race for the second time at Le Mans with Peugeot next weekend, is working to raise the necessary budget for 2009.
Haven’t we heard this same song sung to the same tune before?
“Even though my first experience ended suddenly, NASCAR remains my priority,” the Canadian told Italian magazine Autosprint. “It ended after the Daytona 500 because there were no resources to finance what was left in my program.”
Yep, there it is, same song, same tune. It wasn’t Jacques’ fault he was cashiered from the Bill Davis #27 Toyota it was those evil sponsors who he believes did him wrong.
Jacques and his manager at the time Craig “Clown Prince” Pollock will never admit it was they that floated the rumors of buying into Bill Davis racing at the end of 2007 and dragging along mega-bucks sponsors to support his NASCAR efforts.
“I was probably wrong in refusing previous proposals that would have allowed me to race without having to bring money. But my agreement with Barry Green started in January and you can’t find that amount of money in just a few months. We’re working on building a full-time program in 2009.”
Barry Green took over the unenviable task of finding sponsors stupid enough to pay for Jacques’ way back into NASCAR, at any level.
An even more unenviable task awaits in finding a team that has a seat open. Bill Davis after getting burned by the the terrible twosome of Villeneuve and Pollock is out of the question and besides he’s pretty much placed his eggs in Chrissy Wallace’s basket and rightfully so. The future is there, not in a jobless former F1 driver.
Roush Racing is full-up no ride to be had there, same with Hendrick and RCR. Joe Gibbs is a possibility but a very remote one, Gibbs priority is on driver development not driver resurrections.
DEI? Nope, nothing to see there either. GEM, nope the Evernham operation has enough troubles as it is they don’t need to be courting, or listening to Villeneuve’s empty promises.
“But NASCAR remains my priority for the future, because I like the format, I enjoy the series, and I think I can be competitive.”
Lot’sa luck Jacques, you’ll need it. That and a whole wad of cash.
Here’s an idea Jacques, why don’t you sell that mega-million dollar chateau in Villars, Switzerland. That should bring enough cash flow to finance an entire years worth of Cup racing. You could even say it was “sponsored” by wife Johanna and include a very large image of her on the deck-lid.
Of course that would require to bid her bon-par, as his french sweetheart Johanna would rather be caught dead than live in the oh so provincial North America.
Technorati Tags: Jacques Villeneuve, NASCAR, Joe Gibbs, Roush Fenway Racing, Sprint Cup, Sports, Auto Racing, Full Throttle, F1, Formula One
The Wood Brothers need a driver, and the expectation level might be the lowest in NASCAR!
Woods Bros. may have made some dumb moves in the past, read staying as a single car team so long, but they aren’t THAT stupid to waste time and energy on a F1 wash-out.
Mike Wallace said the other day that Chrissy is supposed to run fulltime in a truck for Germain next year.
There’s always Haas for Jacques. They seem to have Driver of the Week over there.
If he can bring cash, Petty might give him a drive, look at how low they’ve sunk. They may be out of the sport sooner rather than later if they can’t turn things around.
Hum, So, I guess your name is Marc. Here’s my question… Jacques Villeneuve’s record… 1995 CART Champion, 1995 INDY 500 champ, 1997 F1 Champ… Only 2 other drivers have accomplished that hat Trick Mario & Emerson. He’s won many, many races in all different types of series & cars.
And your record is????
Hey I guess it’s easy to slam a person’s driving career when you are of equal ability. He may be a whiner, like the Andretti’s, and he may appear to be a bit of a con man now but until I see your stats… He’s a far better driver than you or I will ever be! But I guess you need to feed this thing you call a racing website by making stupid personal slams on a man you have probably never met or will meet. You also picked on his wife. What is that all about? Slam the man, slam his career, slam his…. well you get it, slam his wife, what’s that point.
Stick to what you know…. I’m thinking the London Daily Star is looking for a slime artist.
This email is from a person that doesn’t even much care for Jacques.
Lets me see if I have this straight “RB,” I have to have a “record” of driving before I can comment of Jacques, is that it?
Well guess what, next time just prior to you hitting the submit button on a blog I’d suggest your think first, because in all fairness the same question can be asked of your defense of Villeneuve.
“RB,” and your record is???
Come on “RB” surely you have a long history of racing at such a high level that gives YOU the right to defend Villeneuve. Right? Just for the sake of argument lets extend your 2nd grade logic out a bit further.
“RB” never having been a U.S. president is it safe to assume you have never been critical of one?
“RB” is it safe to assume never having been an actor of movie producer you’ve never been either critical of a movie or performance because well… because you’re not qualified. (feel pretty stupid now don’t you?)
Let me make and uneducated guess “RB,” when discussing the current wars the U.S. is engaged in you toss out the childish invective of “chickenhawk” as if were candy on halloween towards anyone the is not now in, or never been in the military service?
For the record I know Jacques record very well and that includes exactly dog squat since his championship year and also being tossed to the curb by BMW after consistently being out driven by then teammate Felipe Massa.
And BTW, I note you claim I picked on his wife but didn’t provide any quotes to demonstrate that assertion. Sorry nitwit I stated the well known fact Johanna doesn’t like the U.S. and has no desire to ever live in the U.S.
That’s not a “slam” it’s fact, something you apparently have little knowledge of and is thoroughly shown in your last sentence.
You didn’t send an “email” or have the ability to send an “email” you posted on a blog. Nothing more nothing less.
“Stick to what you know,” which obviously isn’t anything to do with blogs or their function.
Sheese Marc, a bit rugged on RB, aren’t you?
From his last line, “This email is from a person that doesn’t even much care for Jacques”, I would suspect a jilted fan who no doubt needs to see LeBebe back “on top” to rekindle his emotional connection to a driver who hasn’t done diddley squat since 1997, I mean not a single victory anywhere!
To show you that I’m not a total moron RB, I was personally stunned at how well Jacko did in his limited foray into NASCAR events. But I still don’t care for the self centered little whiner, and if he manages to catch a ride I sincerely hope he does well. Everyone deserves a second chance. Problem with LeBebe is NASCAR would be his last chance. I will look forward to his future mediocrity as something we can all discuss.
No, that wasn’t close to being rugged.
I can be a much larger asshole to someone who wades in here and puts on a display of 2nd grade logic.
Ahh it’s great too see our mutual distaste for JV lingers even when he is not behind the wheel.
Personally I don’t see any problem with him finding funding, he only has to reach into his own pocket & draw down a fraction of the fortune he & Pollock fleeced out of the brains trust at British American Tobacco over the years.
I will probably get flamed, but, the 97 F1 title never really impressed me. A superior car in the Williams, a team mate that simply did not challange him, zero competition from any team other than Ferrari. JV was virtually guaranteed a podium (in the absence of a win) in 97.
Oh well, there is always LeMans….in the superior Pug. Hey wait a minute! Maybe he will get a late season call to from Flav at Renault. Just like the last time when Trulli got the boot. JV to replace the young Piquet?
JV to replace young Piquet?…..Marc? Does that qualify as 2nd grade logic?
A non-qualifier Peter.
2nd grade logic would be to replace Coulthard with JV.
BTW, who’s going to flame you? Damn sure won’t be “RB,” he doesn’t have the guts to return after dropping his little turd of wisdom.
Actually MARC, I did race. I raced In many Off Road series, AMA, La Rene, HDRA, Barstow to Vegas, Quads, Motorcycles, etceteras. My final racing was done in the S.C.O.R.E. Desert series, in Class 12. The vehicle was called a MiniMag. No longer [MiniMag] part of the S.C.O.R.E. series. It was built by Chenowth in Alpine, California. Never won my class, but I did come in 2nd & 3rd quite a few times in my 9 years of racing S.C.O.R.E. We did win some races in our class. The presidente 500, Parker 400, Mint 400, Barstow 250 to name a few. There were 3 of us on the team so I can’t take full credit for all of the above as we all took a hand at the wheel in each race. But I did compete and you? You never answered my question.
Marc, here’s my problem with pundits/mud slingers like you… I don’t have a website where I profess to be an expert on all things racing so yes my question was a fair one. Your record is?
Actually having private conversations about likes and dislikes like presidents, movies or whatever “IS” quit different than having a “racing blog” where you profess to being an expert. IMHO.
As far a JV goes, I don’t think I was defending him as much as I was stating some facts about his career and wondering about yours? As far as my not being an actor or a president what the heck does that have to do with anything. And then we have the stuff about his wife. So what if she doesn’t want to live here… the question still stands “what does she have to do with JV and his career?” It was just a cheap shot on your part. As I said, I don’t really care for the man.
Now on to all your imbecilic language, logic and comments. Wow, it’s amazing that you think that jacked up language and name calling makes for an intelligent rebuttal of my comments. Not even sure what the comments about my emailing abilities was about, of course it’s not my main email address, I’m not that stupid. Someone said here that you were being kinda hard on RB. You were not being hard on me…. you were just being LOUD. I could give a “s…” what you say. I only commented on what I read over at USAToday and here.
BTW.. R. Gordon is one hell of a driver. Who cares if he competes in 50 series? I feel he should just do Baja and Dakar and leave that NASCAR crap behind, but it’s his career so what the f…!
Well rave on it’s your blog, you have that right but you put it out there so I have the right to challenge your comments. Can’t take the heat that’s not my problem. Actually it’s kinda funny reading stuff like this, it reminds me of when my team used to buy the Star for some laughs while waiting for our turn at driving, maybe you’re one of those aliens they speak of. So sling on as I’m sure you will, Turd Boy RB
BTW… and you record is?
Oh, now I get your comment about my emailing instead of my posting.. I stand corrected on that.
Also…. Thanx “George” for your intelligent comments. Never said you were a moron and I agree with you on JV.
“RB” - “I don’t have a website where I profess to be an expert on all things racing so yes my question was a fair one. Your record is?”
Oooooh, I’m so not impressed. Not impressed that you fail to see the lack of logic in you asking my “record.”
Lets put it this way nitwit, all your experience is in off-road, at least you claim it is, but nothing in F1.
Using your disingenuous, delusional leap of logic that lack of F1 experience give you no “right” to comment on F1 whether it be in support of someone or critical of someone.
“Marc, here’s my problem with pundits/mud slingers like you… I don’t have a website where I profess to be an expert on all things racing so yes my question was a fair one. Your record is?”
And here’s my problem with kooky, idiotic statements like that.
Does every reporter or columnist that covers any form of motorsport for major and regional newspapers or websites all have to be active or retired from the sport they report on or offer an opinion on?
Their record is what?
“Well rave on it’s your blog, you have that right but you put it out there so I have the right to challenge your comments. Can’t take the heat that’s not my problem.”
Oh look, a slight change of tune. Now I DO have the “right!”
So which is it smart guy?
And BTW, considering you have ZERO experience in the blogosphere you have ZERO right to comment about someone who does or what they chose to write about. At least using your convoluted 2nd grade logic that would be the case.
For the rest of us that have evolved beyond the one cell animal stage, not so much.
HI Markie, I’m back for more abuse. I’ll bet you are sitting there just hoping I’d come back. This will really get your blood flowing, my pleasure.
Yup like I thought you have no racing experience. I never did say I had F1 experience, I do follow F1, WRC, BTCC, and others. Nor did I ever say you had no right to comment on anything you want. I do have the right to comment back, which seems to have generated even more bad manners an petulant behavior.
My racing experience speaks for itself… good or bad or as unimpressive as you say. But at least I do have one. We were called Bad Dog Racing, I know not real creative I raced from about 1989 to about 1994 in the MiniMag.
I only made a simple, maybe rather terse, comment and asked a simple question and got “SPINNED” and called names.
I do have a blog and a website dealing with automotive stuff but telling you where and what the names are would be really stupid on my part. I have a lot of people who come to my sites whether they agree with me or hate what I say they all act in an intelligent manner and are well spoken and informative. If I do make a mistake in judgement or facts, which has happened, I correct it when informed.
Seems you’re one of the “I can shout louder and be nastier than you” types and I’m sure quite proud of that fact. Who needs another Howard Stern in the world.
I’m done with this so I’ll leave you in whatever peace you have as I’m afraid you’ll have a coronary if I continue. Ciao, Roberto
BTW, your record is???
why is it you never answered this question “RB?”
“Does every reporter or columnist that covers any form of motorsport for major and regional newspapers or websites all have to be active or retired from the sport they report on or offer an opinion on?”
And could you explain how racing “from about 1989 to about 1994 in the MiniMag” gives you any authority to comment on F1?
Looks like you have the same level of F1 “experience” that I have yet you claim to have the ability and authority to defend someone yet I’m not in possession of the same right and authority to say the opposite.
And yes you caught me, I’ve been waiting on pins and needles for the oppotunity to read yet again another disingenous defense of the indefensible by you.
See ya…Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Buffoon.
“HI Markie, I’m back for more abuse.”
Well if nothing else RB you are qualified to be an authority on Max, he’s into abuse & keeps coming back for more…& he is even prepared to pay for it.
Peter, given “RB’s” demonstrated lack of commons sense and logic I have serious doubts whether he has enough brain cells to feel any pain as enjoyment or otherwise.