There remains an outside chance that former Formula 1 World Champion and Indy 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve could end up behind the wheel of a Nextel Cup car in 2007. Thats the word from Roush Racing President Geoff Smith, who said Roush would help Villeneuve put together a team, if his handlers can bring the money to make it happen. Were open to it, were willing to work with them, but, really the ball is in their court right now, Smith said Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. His (Villeneuves) manager, Craig Pollock, hes the man behind the marketing of that, and Ive heard in the garage that certain sponsors are being pitched by him, so there is some activity going on. If a deal were to happen, it would not be in a Roush car, since that would exceed NASCARs team-size limit. Instead it would be a squad the Canadian driver and his minions would assemble, with Roush providing the technical muscle. Theres two kinds of chances, and theyre both related to whether or not his marketing organization, which supports him, can close on financial support, Smith said. If theyre able to close on full-time Cup support in the next few minutes, few days, then we can support that team with cars, engines, gears, all the hardware stuff enough to get it up and running. If theyre not able to do that shortly, but theyre able to get a support for commitment next year thats partial, then well have a little more time to be able to put an infrastructure around helping them, Smith said.(Speed Channel)(11-19-2006)
UPDATE: The US$100 million Canada’s Jacques Villeneuve banked during his five years with Formula One’s BAR-Honda team may end up being the stake for his entry into the Nextel Cup series. After lengthy negotiations with Roush Racing failed to produce more than just promises, Villeneuve and his manager Craig Pollock appear headed toward buying their own Cup team. Roush general manager Geoff Smith told Speed TV that the organization will help Villeneuve and Pollock put together their own team if they come up with the money. That help would be in the form of Roush-built chassis and engines from the Roush-Yates Ford motor program. The 35-year-old Villeneuve, meanwhile, became a father this week for the first time after his wife Johanna gave birth to a baby boy, named Jules, on Tuesday.(Toronto Sun)(11-20-2006)
