Hot ticket sales may require more grandstands

Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is used to hosting major events — it's been the home of the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix since 1978 — so it's no surprise that with eight months to go before the Busch Series makes its Canadian debut, few changes need to be made to the track on the Ile Notre-Dame.

The track's Web site is busy selling tickets for seats in grandstands temporarily named after some of NASCAR's greatest drivers.

Want to see the action in the pits and the start-finish line? Pick either the Petty or Waltrip stands, although the cars will still funnel into the Ayrton Senna corner. Other stands have been named Allison, Pearson, Wallace, Jarrett and Johnson — the reference there is probably to 50-time winner Junior and not 2006 Nextel Cup champion Jimmie.

"The response has been overwhelming," Busch Series director Joe Balash said. "One of the good challenges we have right now is they're talking about adding additional grandstands because of the response of people wanting to buy tickets.

"It's very unique. It's the first time we've had a chance to race on a circuit that's on an island. It's a very beautiful facility. The city is very accommodating. It's going to be a really cool place to come watch a race." NASCAR.com