Former Formula One driver Jacques Villeneuve’s road to NASCAR continues to hit speed bumps. After weeks of searching for a sponsor to come up with the roughly $18-million (U.S.) he needs to secure a ride in the NASCAR Busch Series [plans were to team up with Roush Racing], the 1997 world champion driver has apparently set his sights a bit lower. A source close to the 35-year-old native of Iberville, Que., said he is now looking into other ways of getting into a stock car. “He’s even talking about doing the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series now and then, do some Busch, to try to get into it,” the source said. On his official website, Villeneuve’s Christmas message alluded to a forthcoming deal, but did not specify where he might land. (Globe and Mail)(1-3-2007) UPDATE: Craig Pollock, Villeneuve’s manager, said Friday that talks are ongoing with several NASCAR teams to secure a drive for the 35-year-old former Formula One champion in the coming weeks, despite published reports to the contrary. “What’s appeared in newspapers has been absolutely ludicrous,” Pollock told CanWest News Service. “The fact is we’re putting together a package which is necessary for Jacques. We’re in a very strong position with any team he wants to go to and there are many, many teams really interested in Jacques. We’re hoping by the end of the month, NASCAR-wise, as far as knowing which direction we want to go.” Pollock’s comments were in response to a story in the Globe and Mail this week, which was subsequently picked up by a myriad of racing websites. A Toronto newspaper reported Villeneuve’s efforts to join NASCAR’s Busch Series [NOT Busch Grand National Series since 2002] had stalled because of the absence of a sponsor ready to invest about $18 million US on his behalf. Other reports suggested the cost might be as high as $23 million to secure a ride in NASCAR’s premier Nextel Cup series. The Toronto story also reported Villeneuve’s sights were now set on NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series as a last option in an attempt to resurrect his racing career following an abrupt departure from BMW Sauber last August, which ended a 10-year mostly tumultuous run in F1 for the 1997 world champion. Earlier reports said Villeneuve who became a father in November when his wife, Johanna Martinez, gave birth to a son, Jules was close to signing a deal with Roush Racing, which runs six cars [actually five, the sixth was part time in 2006] in the Nextel Cup series. The deal supposedly fell through, however, when Villeneuve insisted Pollock be given a major role in the management of the team. Pollock denied the account as “the biggest load . . . I’ve ever heard” and said talks were continuing with team owner Jack Roush, with whom Pollock said his relationship was “excellent.”(Canada,com/Montreal Gazette)(1-7-2007)
