Villeneuve to race in Montreal event

UPDATE This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today. Braun Racing is pleased to announce that former Formula One World Champion Jacques Villeneuve will drive its No. 32 Toyota Camry in the second annual NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on August 1-2, 2008. The addition of Villeneuve to the field at the world renowned road course named after his father, Gilles Villeneuve, a legendary Formula 1 driver, adds a special hometown feeling to the event that already includes an array of Canadian drivers.

Though this event will mark his first NASCAR Nationwide Series start at the track which carries his namesake, the road course phenomenon has a tremendous amount of experience on the 2.709-mile (4.361 km) road course. In a career that has spanned for more than two decades, Villeneuve has experienced tremendous success that can be rivaled by very few. He has captured world championships in both the CART Series and Formula 1 and is logged in the record books as winner of the 1995 Indianapolis 500. To win championships in both CART and Formula 1 on top of a win in the famed Indy 500 is a feat that has only been accomplished by two other drivers.

"We're excited for the race fans in Montreal that Jacques Villeneuve will participate in this event," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's Vice President of Racing Operations. "His addition increases the competitiveness of the field and brings another Canadian driver to the mix."

For Villeneuve's part, he looks forward to aligning himself with a team as competitive as Braun Racing.

''It's always fun to have the opportunity to race for such a competitive team as Braun Racing with great people that show confidence in you. It also adds to my pleasure to be in a car that hosted great pilots such as Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin."

Braun Racing team owner, Todd Braun, feels that the addition of Villeneuve to his team's efforts in Montreal will give them an extra advantage from a competitive standpoint.

"Jacques has had an incredible career," said Braun. "The type of experience he can bring to our entire organization and road course program is invaluable. We look forward to working with him and to taking advantage of the experience and knowledge he brings with him."

07/16/08 Jacques Villeneuve is expected to announce a one-off ride with the Braun Racing team for August's NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Montreal in a press conference Thursday.

The 1997 Formula One world champion will drive the No. 32 Toyota Camry that NASCAR star Kyle Busch piloted to victory in Charlotte earlier this season. Villeneuve will be one of three drivers for Braun at the Circuit-Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.

The former F1 star has plenty of experience on the 13-turn, 4.361-kilometre circuit named after his father, racing there 10 times in the Canadian Grand Prix. His best result was a second in 1996 while driving for Williams.

The announcement comes five months after Villeneuve lost his top-tier NASCAR Sprint Cup ride with Bill Davis Racing after failing to qualify for the season opening Daytona 500. The 37-year-old raced in the Craftsman Truck series last year before making his Cup debut in the UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in October. He finished 21st.