All Singing, all dancing JV thread. (Merged)

Jacques Villeneuve is edging closer to a deal with a Nascar team, according to an Italian sports newspaper.

'La Gazzetta dello Sport' is reporting this week that the French Canadian, whose BMW tenure and formula one career abruptly ended after the German GP last month, is now in talks with a team in the highly-popular American stock car series.



If confirmed for 2007, the news would make 35-year-old Villeneuve - world champion of 1997 - the second former formula one winner to switch to Nascar this year, after Juan Pablo Montoya announced his shock move in early July.

http://www.paddocktalk.com/news/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=40362

While I hope it's true, I also hope the team in question is one of the better ones, rather than one of the smaller ones with questionable budget (which unfortunately is all too often where "outsiders" decide to go just to get a foot in the door).

JV going to Nascar you say. well it definatly seems this story is gathering some steam.

so if he does make the switch, what can we expect? will he be racing in the series right away?, what kind of licence will he require?, will he have to work his way up in order to compete at Nascar's top level? etc.

forgive the ignorance of my questions, im just an F1 fan and honestly don't know so much about this series other than its on tv alot:)

From what I've seen its a Busch series deal which is the 2nd tier series just below Cup (where JPM is running). He should be able to start out pretty much right away. NASCAR may require some testing to see how he handles the car. And if he is available chances are he will run a race or two before the end of this season, there are a few races after F1 ends there season. I expect to see him running in those races. I'm not sure which team it is, but if I was to guess at his salary demands it would almost have to be one of the bigger and more successful teams.

J.D.

Here's a link with some more news and rumours:
http://www.jayski.com/teams/drivers.htm#jacques

J.D.

It would be a mistake to jump right in at the Cup level. A number of races in Busch or even Arca would be the smart thing to do, regardless of the talent level.

Well, it's not surprise news, but it is very welcome. Can't wait to see him and he'd be a great draw for the Busch Series!

It'd be funny if it was something like Dare-2 or RCR wouldn't it?

I just can't seem to get the picture of him drivering a light blue and white stock car out of my head, anyone else getting this?

If he is going straight to cup there are less possibilities but if he is going to spend a year in the BGN series (which a driver without the long-term commitment and bond JPM has with his car owner would be better off doing) things open up more. Teams that are considering expanding are especially good prospects, such as RCR, DEI, and Penske. They could run JV in the BGN series for a year and then move him up with their new team to the cup series in 2008. Penske has witnessed JV's talent behind the wheel firsthand so that may help him there.

If he goes to the Busch Series first RCR may be a likely team. Harvick will not run the full schedule next year, RCR has arguably the best Busch program right now, Childress has long wanted to expand to 4 teams, and Childress has shown a willingness to give outsiders a chance before (R. Gordon, Tracy, Sarah Fisher, and to a lesser extent Dave Blaney).

I think the big question surrounding him going to the BGN series is whether a F1 champ would accept driving in NASCAR's second-tier series?

Red Bull may be a possibility as well, particularly if he goes straight to the cup series. We know they are in it for marketing and JV would be great at producing publicity for them. They also may develop into a strong team since they should have as much financial backing as necessary from Red Bull.

If he goes straight to the cup series Roush is actually a possibility. Kleuver won't get that seat, and he showed why he shouldn't be given that seat once again by qualifying 43rd in a Roush car at California (one of Roush's best tracks). No top NASCAR drivers are available so it wouldn't necessarily be bad for Roush to take a gamble on JV.

David Gilliland getting a relatively good cup seat after one fluke Busch Series win that shows how poor the free agent pool in NASCAR is right now.

I think the big question surrounding him going to the BGN series is whether a F1 champ would accept driving in NASCAR's second-tier series?
The thing is, can one really call the Busch Series a "regular" second-tier series these days, given how the NEXTEL Cup drivers dominate the races (and the championship, for that matter)? It might be a second-tier series on paper, but you still often go up against the very best stock car drivers in the world whenever you take part in a Busch race. I'm fairly certain Villeneuve would be aware of this, and possibly - hopefully? - see it as a good way of getting used to the world of stock cars while still going up against the best.

As usual we will see how things play out though - it is, after all, not even certain yet that he'll actually move to stock cars. I sure hope he does though :)

VilleneuveTracy, so Tracy's gonna run in 6 Busch series races next year - looks like both your guys may be in. Good on ya'. JPM a nice little bonus.

I would have edited my last post there but I must've been outside the 107% rule;sorry. I didn't know JPM wasn't running in Cup until kingfloopy just mentioned it. So, thanks for that. I gotta get out more.

As a side note, P Carpentier is running in cascar.

Still other than a blurb from an italian newspaper(not the best source for nascar news I would imagine) we have nothing to speak of yet.

If he goes straight to the cup series Roush is actually a possibility. Kleuver won't get that seat, and he showed why he shouldn't be given that seat once again by qualifying 43rd in a Roush car at California (one of Roush's best tracks). No top NASCAR drivers are available so it wouldn't necessarily be bad for Roush to take a gamble on JV.



I agree, Kleuver has done pretty poorly, he actually DNQ'd, Travis Kvapil qualified 43rd.

Would be great to see. him get into the series, somehow I can't see it though, Busch or Cup

I would have edited my last post there but I must've been outside the 107% rule;sorry. I didn't know JPM wasn't running in Cup until kingfloopy just mentioned it. So, thanks for that. I gotta get out more.

Montoya is signed for the #42 - GANASSI - TEXACO/HAVOLINE in Cup for '07 & '08. However if he can be freed up to race this year, Ganassi said he would put him in a couple of Busch races. Nascar requested a couple of oval races prior to Dayona 500, and I think JV would get the same recomendation. (There are numerous small oval series that race in January across the sun belt that would meet this need. (I would also think that they would be willing to accept 24 Daytona or IROC at Day experience too.)

Anyone know if JMPs contract is over on 10/23 (last F1) or 1/1/07?

I have no idea, but MotoGP contracts work untill Dec 31. So I assume F1 is the same.

It depends. JPM is free from his contract after the Brazilian GP, the final F1 race. But it is usually 31st December.

VilleneuveTracy, so Tracy's gonna run in 6 Busch series races next year - looks like both your guys may be in. Good on ya'. JPM a nice little bonus.

Yes, next year will be great. :) JPM is going to primarily be in the cup series but I am sure he will run a fair amount of Busch races as well.

Not even qualifying in a Roush car--and at California. Wow. I think Kleuver may have put the nail in his cup coffin this weekend...

As a side note, P Carpentier is running in cascar.
Yup, he made his debut this past weekend and finished sixth :)

He's trying to get a Busch Series deal together for 2007.

JV should do resonably well, he has oval experiance, just like JPM.

If only it were that simple. It's a long road and a steep learning curve.

It's one thing to tame a Champcar round an oval, quite another to tame a stockcar in the middle of the pack.

Villeneuve will be running the Busch series. The competition isn't as strong there so he should have a better chance at running well. Very few cup drivers are planning on running both series full-time which will enhance the odds for the Busch regulars. There will still be a learning curve as Paul Tracy found this year and he will have to get some experience to be real good. But I think that if he is with a decent team that will stick it out through any rough patches and he avoids bad luck he should do okay.

I wonder when the official announcement for all this will be?

J.D.

If only it were that simple. It's a long road and a steep learning curve. It's one thing to tame a Champcar round an oval, quite another to tame a stockcar in the middle of the pack.
I bet. My guess is JPM's driving style would be more suited to heavy stock cars on ovals than JV's. More...........Paul Tracy but with car control.

we still haven't heard any solid rumor linking jv to any nascar team.

we still haven't heard any solid rumor linking jv to any nascar team.
Exactly, it's all still very speculative.

I'm sure it's a tough call for Jacques. Does he really want to drive stock cars? He's likely "had it up to here" with the politics, a bad taste in his mouth and some sour grapes. NASCAR may very well be just more of the same.

It won't be Roush (at least not a cup ride with Roush for 07'). Roush Racing has said the driver of the #6 next year will be one of its developmental drivers.

Jacques to join Roush?

There are reports from Italy that Jacques Villeneuve has signed a deal with Jack Roush to race for the Roush Racing organisation in NASCAR.

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns17557.html

Please let it be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Montoya and Jacques in NASCAR!?

Its good to see NASCAR want drivers that think for themselves. I hope it happens!!!

Roush will may have multiple Busch series openings depending on which Cup drivers run what races. It is also possible he will have a full-time truck ride and partial Busch season. If they are signing him chances are its a backup plan in case Jaime McMurray or Todd Kluever don't pan out and they need a new Cup driver in a year or two. I suppose there is also the distant possibility that he may replace Martin next year or run Cup races Martin isn't going to run (wherever Martin ends up).

J.D.

JV HAS NO ROUSH DEAL
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/55107

Incorrect, the announcement only states that JV won't be replacing Martin, which no one really thought he would. There has not been a finalised lineup for his Busch squad which is where JV is most likely going to wind up.

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns17626.html

A Busch deal for Villeneuve?

The latest reports from the United States say that Jacques Villeneuve and Jack Roush are in the final stages of a deal to put the former Formula 1 World Champion, Indy 500 winner and CART Champion into a selected number of NASCAR Busch Series events in 2007. The schedule is yet to be finally agreed but it is certain to include the new Busch Series races which will be taking place on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on August 4. This will put Villeneuve up against the rising stars of the NASCAR world plus Nextel Cup drivers, known as "Buschwhackers" who race in the Busch Series to pick up more prize money. Their involvement increases interest in the second-tier series but means that newcomers rarely get a look in. This year, for example, 26 of the 28 events to date have been won by Nextel Cup drivers while only two new winners have emerged: David Gilliland and Paul Menard.

I'm sorry, does "I told you so" count. ;)

I'm sorry, does "I told you so" count. ;)
Sure :laugh:

Oh wow, F1 to buschstorming for a few races. I don't know what he is thinking. After he drives that tank on the CGV next year, he might decide to do something more challenging.

Well for someone who's "nearly signed", this is taking awhile. If we want to see JV and JPM in the same race next year, or even 2008, Jacques better have something lined-up quick. No news?

News is still that he will run some select Busch races.

Doesn't look like its going to happen:
http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns17755.html

J.D.

About what I expected. Ultimately I can't see JV wanting to run a 40 weekend schedule in the USA. Nascar/Jv doesn't add up. He's better off in sportscars or dtm.

Maybe he wants to stay at home with the new baby? ;)

He'll soon change his mind I suspect, with the wife bashing his ear in and all that. ;)

It's not over yet.

http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=135361

It's not over yet.

http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=135361

Maybe they can get BAT involved ;)

JV! He never gives up! :rotate:

TSN.ca Staff

11/30/2006 3:52:56 PM

Jacques Villeneuve appears to be one step closer to joining the stock car ranks in 2007.

According to RDS, the former Formula One champion has reached an agreement with Roush Racing to help facilitate his move into NASCAR next spring. Team president Geoff Smith tells XM Satellite radio that Villeneuve would begin his career in the Craftsman Truck Series before graduating to the Busch Grand National Series.

Villeneuve reportedly needs to find between $16-million and $18-million in sponsorship before the deal can be finalized.

Earlier this month Smith was quoted as saying they would be willing to work with Villeneuve and his group but that the ball was squarely in their court in terms of getting the necessary financing in place.

http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/news_story/?ID=186566&hubname=auto_racing

I wonder if he'll be able to raise that much money as he's unproven in stock cars.

J.D.

According www.autosport.nl there are rumours Audi talks with Willeneuve about a drive in DTM.

Hell, forget Villeneuve who has never driven in a Nascar race. The exciting news is that Ward is coming back.

From Jayski

Ward signs with Morgan-McClure; has a sponsor: per the Morgan-McClure Motorsports website [see images of the car there], Ward Burton has signed to driver the #4 Morgan McClure Motorsports Chevy in 2007 to be sponsored by State Water Heaters.(MMM Site)(12-13-2006), also see images of the car on my #4 Paint Schemes Page.

Seems Villeneuve is still working towards NASCAR, according to a GrandPrix.com report (http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns18050.html).

And more to that article at Flagworld Rusty:

Villeneuve agreed that NASCAR is "still the main plan", while Pollock ruled out a return to Champ Car or the IRL.

"We're working hard with Craig on the NASCAR project for 2008," Villeneuve added.

It sounds like a prospective sponsor's getting pretty serious.

JV is close to wrapping up a major sponsor with NASCAR. There is no stopping this guy! The past Formula Atlantic and CART Champion, Indy 500 winner, F1 Champion now has his sights on winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup (and LeMans of course). A release of a cd, what else can he possibly accomplish??

It would be cool to see JV and Montoya go head to head in NASCAR wouldn't anyone think? I think I would actually tune in to watch some races.

This should really have been posted in historics. ;)

But yes, it would be great to see JV in NASCAR. But it is more likely he is either doing Craftsman Truck or Busch Series for a while before Nextel Cup.

As for Nascar....I think he'll be happy there and do well...It's 'his kind' of racing and he has conquered ovals before. If he has 100% i can see him winning a few things in Nascar.

I can see him doing some Busch and Craftsman Trucks this year, if all goes well and sponsorship found a full run in the Cup in 2008. First things first though, and thats Le Mans.

JV is close to wrapping up a major sponsor with NASCAR. There is no stopping this guy! The past Formula Atlantic and CART Champion, Indy 500 winner, F1 Champion now has his sights on winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup (and LeMans of course). A release of a cd, what else can he possibly accomplish??

It would be cool to see JV and Montoya go head to head in NASCAR wouldn't anyone think? I think I would actually tune in to watch some races.

It would be nice for Montoya. He'd have someone to keep him company when he goes a lap down!:laugh: