Jacques Villeneuve to drive some Nationwide Series races for Go Canada Racing

[kk9fan97]

The probable association between Jacques Villeneuve and Go Canada Racing, as reported by Le Journal de Montreal in August, has resurfaced. Villeneuve could run a dozen races (and maybe more) this year in the Nationwide Series driving a car owned by Toronto businessman Steve Meehan. Meehan declined to elaborate on the issue, while acknowledging that he had discussed with Villeneuve in recent weeks. Andrew Ranger will not drive for the team at Daytona, contrary to earlier reports. His debut will take place two weeks later at Las Vegas and possibly at Phoenix, the second week of the season. David Ragan, who has six years experience in Sprint Cup, wll take over the wheel of the Go Canada Ford at Daytona. In addition, the team has acquired a new Dodge Challenger that will be used at Phoenix

- Via Jayski

Interesting. I wonder who will drive at Montreal (Villeneuve or Ranger)? Villeneuve probably because of his connections to the track. Maybe even run two cars that week - one for Villeneuve, and one for Ranger.

[JRFAN88]

Meehan's gonna paying for a lot of damaged cars then. Villeneuve is the Nationwide version of Montoya.

[BMM248]

I'm pretty sure Villeneuve can get a better ride than this for Montreal, at least.

[Johnny]

Who's gonna want him back now as far as good teams. Its like the Vickers effect.

[BMM248]

Who's gonna want him back now as far as good teams. Its like the Vickers effect.

I bet Turner would field a car for him like they have in the past. Villeneuve in Montreal might as well be as big as Earnhardt in Talladega.

[Pat]

Drive? You mean wreck?

[FordFan]

Oh no....not this idiot!

[Scott99]

I bet Turner would field a car for him like they have in the past. Villeneuve in Montreal might as well be as big as Earnhardt in Talladega.

Im pretty sure I couldnt possibly have read this correctly. I thought for a second you compared Villeneuve to Earnhardt. Those 2 are not even in the same conversation. Nope, not even close.

[FordFan]

Im pretty sure I couldnt possibly have read this correctly. I thought for a second you compared Villeneuve to Earnhardt. Those 2 are not even in the same conversation. Nope, not even close.

He's using an analogy.


He's saying, Villenuve is as big in Montreal as Earnhardt is as big in Talledega.

[DEJ95]

He's using an analogy.


He's saying, Villenuve is as big in Montreal as Earnhardt is as big in Talledega.

I've been to Talladega, and no, Earnhardt is practically a religion over there lol.

[JRFAN88]

I've been to Talladega, and no, Earnhardt is practically a religion over there lol.

I read in an article on nascar.com during the week leading up to the fall Dega race last year that Earnhardt gives Crimson Tide a run for the money for most loyal fans. Sometimes I wish I lived in the southeast. NASCAR isn't very popular in Texas.

But what I don't understand is how can a driver be so stupid and reckless when he used to be a pretty good driver in F1? Does he think just because these cars have fenders that he can run people over?

[Charlie Fibrosis]

I read in an article on nascar.com during the week leading up to the fall Dega race last year that Earnhardt gives Crimson Tide a run for the money for most loyal fans. Sometimes I wish I lived in the southeast. NASCAR isn't very popular in Texas.

But what I don't understand is how can a driver be so stupid and reckless when he used to be a pretty good driver in F1? Does he think just because these cars have fenders that he can run people over?

Must be. I think Jacques's move at Road Atlanta or Montrail a while back when he wrecked like three guys at the start was just horrid and dispicable. Jacques is a good racer in the open wheel cars and could be good in NASCAR but he has got to approach this as if he is still running an F1 car. I mean if he won, do you think Roger Penske would want to repair a mangled race car that won just moments earlier?

Personally if I was an owner, I wouldn't mind necessarily a few "bumps and bruises" on the car but to have a driver that is running full throttle and busting everyone's car up by not hitting the brakes? Not going to be there much longer.

Hope Andrew Ranger can get a co-ride with Jacques in Montrail so if Jacques gets parked, then maybe Ranger can drive cleanly enough to get that car into victory lane. I don't mean to offend any Villeneuve fans, he just needs to calm the heck down on the tracks and treat the cars carefully and not use them like cement blocks or indestructable pieces of steel

[Airborne Idiot]

Penske ain't lettig run anymore with Villenue? Well at least Tagliani ,might be back...

[Charlie Fibrosis]

Penske ain't lettig run anymore with Villenue? Well at least Tagliani ,might be back...

Oh I know Vileneuve isn't in the 22 Penske machine anymore, I was using it as an example since he was beatting everyone's cars up when he was in the car. Also that was the last ride I think he had up until now.

[kk9fan97]

Penske ain't lettig run anymore with Villenue? Well at least Tagliani ,might be back...

I doubt Tagliani will be back unless Penske runs a 3rd car for him. Hornish is running full time in the 12. Bad Brad, and Kligerman are splitting the 22.

[SpeedEnergy]

and why did he ever release JR Fitzpatrick ?

[MarkMartinFan]

Oh I know Vileneuve isn't in the 22 Penske machine anymore, I was using it as an example since he was beatting everyone's cars up when he was in the car. Also that was the last ride I think he had up until now.

Has it been stated anywhere that Penske won't be calling Jacques Villeneuve back again to run the #22 car? As far as I was are, there wasn't any bad blood there between Roger Penske and Jacques, despite the overly aggressive moves that Jacques was pulling. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ranger in the Go Canada car at Montreal with Villenueve driving the #22 for Penske. The truck and Cup races are both in Michigan that weekend, and I don't know if Brad or Parker will want to make the trip to Montreal to run the NNS car. It would make alot more sense for Penske to tab Villenueve, Tagliani, or some other road course ringer to drive the car that weekend.

[Johnny]

Considering Tagliani did a solid job in the 12 last year without doing anything stupid I think Penske would pick him over Jacques.

[JRFAN88]

Must be. I think Jacques's move at Road Atlanta or Montrail a while back when he wrecked like three guys at the start was just horrid and dispicable. Jacques is a good racer in the open wheel cars and could be good in NASCAR but he has got to approach this as if he is still running an F1 car. I mean if he won, do you think Roger Penske would want to repair a mangled race car that won just moments earlier?

Personally if I was an owner, I wouldn't mind necessarily a few "bumps and bruises" on the car but to have a driver that is running full throttle and busting everyone's car up by not hitting the brakes? Not going to be there much longer.

Hope Andrew Ranger can get a co-ride with Jacques in Montrail so if Jacques gets parked, then maybe Ranger can drive cleanly enough to get that car into victory lane. I don't mean to offend any Villeneuve fans, he just needs to calm the heck down on the tracks and treat the cars carefully and not use them like cement blocks or indestructable pieces of steel

I didn't see the Montreal race, but I do remember seeing a replay from that race where he pretty much just took Ambrose out, then later Ambrose got payback. But I remember at Road America late in the race he took it 3 wide going into one and he ran out of racetrack. So instead of getting in the grass, he decided to wreck Max Papis and a few other guys, and they were really pissed.

And i kinda disagree with the "he still has the approach like he's running an F1 car." With F1 cars, you can't do things like he's doing in NASCAR. He's running over everybody over here. In F1, it seems like if you make contact with someone, you're penalized.

As for Penske not wanting to fix a heavily damaged race car that went to Victory Lane, just remember Terry Labonte's Bristol win in 1995. He hit the wall head on and won the race. I bet Rick didn't mind too much.

And don't worry about offending any Villeneuve fans, there's none here, haha.

[nirvanafan]

according to jayski andrews driving at montreal and team has been renamed cause ragans runnin at daytona 400th post