Villeneuve and NASCAR….again

UPDATE #2 Barry Green, business manager for Jacques Villeneuve, said the former Formula One champion definitely wants to be in the Sprint Cup series in 2009. Green, who denied reports last week that he and Villeneuve planned to start their own Cup team, said Villeneuve has turned down several offers to race in Europe. "He wants Sprint Cup," Green said. "We are far from having a deal for 2009 put together. We would like to see him do a handful of races this year." Green said "it's a given" Villeneuve will compete in the Nationwide race in Montreal on Aug. 2, but was not prepared to say which team he will be with. Villeneuve entered this season with Bill Davis Racing. He did not qualify for the season-opening Daytona 500 and never attempted another Cup race because he had no sponsorship. Villeneuve split shortly after with then-business manager Craig Pollock. Davis said he is interested in continuing the relationship with Villeneuve. "Barry is trying to salvage something," Davis said. "We've got a good relationship with Barry and Jacques, and if they get something worked out, we would be all ears." ESPN.com

06/07/08 Canada's only F-1 world champion may no longer be racing in the series but Jacques Villeneuve's appearance at the track named for his late father drew a crowd yesterday. Villeneuve was quick to say he was just there as a fan and has no plans to seek another ride in the world's most prestigious racing series.

"I'm here to enjoy the ambiance," he said.

Villeneuve did say his goal is still to get back into the NASCAR Sprint Cup series this season and hopefully to get a ride in the Nationwide series that makes its stop at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Aug. 2.

"We are still exploring sponsorship," he said.

Villeneuve denied he has teamed up with F-1 promoter Normand Legault and former Indy Car team owner Barry Green to field their own Sprint Cup team. Winnipeg Sun

06/04/08 (GMM) Former formula one world champion Jacques Villeneuve's NASCAR foray may soon be back on track.

After losing his BMW-Sauber seat in 2006, the 1997 title winner last year began racing American stock cars for Bill Davis Racing with a view to undertaking a full season in the premier category this season.

But after a handful of disappointing outings, he lost his ride due to a lack of sponsorship.

It is reported this week in the French language Canadian newspaper La Presse, however, that 37-year-old Villeneuve is looking to team up with his former CART team boss Barry Green, and Canadian GP promoter Normand Legault, in a bid to rejuvenate his NASCAR foray.

The daily publication said the collaboration needs sponsorship, but could link up with an existing team, such as Chip Ganassi Racing, who lured Juan Pablo Montoya from F1 to America's most popular form of motor sport in 2006.

"It's something we are still working on," Legault confirmed, "but we are very optimistic."