NCTS Tide 250 Preview - the Villeneuve File
Many world-class drivers are willing to return to their roots when the occasion allows, but not many sign up for something they’ve done very little of in their careers.
Jacques Villeneuve (No. 7 Jacombs Racing Ford), the 1995 Indy 500 winner and 1997 Formula 1 world champion, will go short-rack racing in the Tide 250 at Quebec’s Autodrome St. Eustache and make his NASCAR Canadian Tire Series debut in the process.
Stock cars and NASCAR racing, in particular, are not new to Villeneuve, who has competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as well as, the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping Word Truck Series. Be that as it may, there are no .4-mile flat ovals, like the St. Eustache track, in any of those series.
He spent about an hour in a Jacombs Racing car in mid-May, but it was far from a programmed test session.
“I was in the area when (Autodrome St. Eustache track owner Alan Labrosse) called and told me the car was at the track,” the 38-year-old Villeneuve said. “I went over there with my running shoes on and had to put a pillow under my bum.”
He got about 30 laps in, mostly to get used to the car and the track.
“We didn’t make any adjustments to the car. I just went round and round,” he said. “I haven’t spent a lot of time on a track that small. It took a little time to get used to everything, but it was pretty entertaining.”
Jacombs Racing Ford Fusion as it appeared at Autodrome St. Eustache in late May. Current sponsorship is unknown.
“That’s my priority now. Actually, to look at my NASCAR options, is the main reason I moved back to Montreal,” Villeneuve said. “There’s a lot of chaos in F1 right now, but I know that it is something I do well, so I am taking a look at that, as well.”
Definitely on his radar is the NASCAR Nationwide Series race scheduled for Aug. 30 in Montreal at the track that bears the name of his legendary late father–Gilles Villeneuve.
“I’m confident we’ll be able to put something together for that race, but not as late as last year.”
Regardless of past accomplishments, much like Tony Stewart, Villeneuve simply likes to race anything anywhere.
“I like racing and driving race cars, so whenever you have time; you jump into anything you can,” he said. “I think I would welcome the opportunity to race more in this series if my schedule allows.”
NOTE: The video is the opening laps of the series season opening Tufoil 250 held at Autodrome St. Eustache the last week of May, 2009. It’s an interesting little Bull Ring, one that I doubt Villeneuve has seen the likes of before. All the rootin’, ruttin’ and extreme cases of bumper tag may be a rude awakening for Jacques.
Presumably Villeneuve will team with Jacombs Racing’s Andrew Ranger who drives for the team this year and won the first NASCAR Canadian Tire Championship for them in 2007.
It also assumes Villeneuve makes an appearance in what amounts to a home track, small as it is. As noted above Jacques is also courting a Formula One ride for 2010 and has attended a number of events this year helmet in hand.
Will he be in Quebec, or at the Nürburgring site of this weeks German Grand Prix?
[...] last heard from former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve was preparing for his first NASCAR Canadian Tire Series start at Autodrome St. [...]