Villeneuve: NASCAR or DTM?
Audi has admitted interest in putting 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve behind the wheel of a DTM car in 2007.
With Heinz-Harald Frentzen no longer a part of Audi’s team in the German touring car series, a spokesman said Villeneuve and fellow F1 refugee Juan Pablo Montoya are top of Audi’s Christmas wish list.
“They would of course be great for the series,” Jurgen Pippig is quoted as saying by Sport-Informations-Dienst.
Juan “Don’t Call Me Pablo” Montoya obviously is a pipe dream as he’s contractually tied to Chip Ganassi and the intensive NASCAR schedule wouldn’t allow any side trips across the pond.
Villeneuve has a “conditional” deal with Roush Racing. Unless he finds someone to foot the bill Roush will bid the French Canadian a swift bon-par.
The news agency ’sid’ speculated that a DTM Audi deal could earn Villeneuve nearly $8 million a year.
Audi chief Wolfgang Ullrich said: “No question about it, big names are good for the DTM.”
If true Jacques better take the Audi offer and stick with something close to what he knows best, road racing.
Jacques Villeneuve, NASCAR, DTM, NEXTEL Cup, Sports, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle
Nothing would please me more than Le Bebe in DTM. It’s got to be the least reported series here in the states. Hopefully it will mean the end of any news re JV. But with Jacques unsurpassed ability to whine I’m sure he’ll bring media exposure the likes they’ve never seen before.
Somebody is blowing smoke out their arse, there is no way Audi could justify paying JV $8mil. Nor can I see him “earning” that figure sponsorship & endorsements.
Actually I would like to see a highly over rated JV thrown into the cut & thrust of Euro tin tops - the DTM is no gentlemans club - I’m fortunate enough to get it on FOX, JV would end up like Alesi & Frentzen IMHO.
LeBebe, I love it. Much better han motormouth.
Actually Peter I’m very suprised Mika has lasted as long as he has in DTM. The memory is dusty but still have a vision of him sitting just outside the armmco crying like a baby after dropping out aof a race that cinched a title for Schmi.
And I agree 8 mil is way too high. 800,000 maybe but not 8 mil.