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Jacques Villeneuve has few friends in the NASCAR garage. Some might say it was because of an incident in the Nationwide Race in Montreal involving Marcos Ambrose. But it was Danica Patrick who had the sharpest criticism for the 1997 world champion.
Q: Have you and Jacques Villeneuve put whatever happened last year behind you yet?
Danica Patrick: “I don't know. I saw him in the Rookie meeting and I was like, ‘Oh, hey'. And that was about it (laughter). You know, after the things that have happened, it's hard to have a lot of respect for somebody like that. I respect what he's done in his career; but the way that he treats other drivers on the track, I can't. So, that's all there is to say.”
Q: With guys like (Jacques) Villeneuve in the race this year does that add a wild card factor?
Jimmie Johnson: “I didn't know that but yeah, cautions might go up a little bit based on his Nationwide experience from what I've seen.”
Q: What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the name Jacques Villeneuve?
Clint Bowyer: "Train wreck, extremely fast train, but usually ends up derailed somehow. I don't mean that roust. There has to be a level of respect and it doesn't matter if you're racing for points throughout the season, or just show up and race against the peers of one of the premier levels of all of motorsports.
"If that respect is not there, you're not going to come in and beat and bang on this bunch for long and you're probably going to be frustrated by the end of the day. That's not a threat or anything else.
"We've all seen what will happen in those Nationwide races and it was too bad because there seemed to be one common denominator in a lot of the cautions that came out."
Q: How is it to compete against Jacques Villeneuve this weekend?
Marcos Ambrose: “I've got no issues. I think there are plenty of other drivers that have more issues than me. It's good. I really like Jacques. I watched him win all of those Formula One races and the world championship and I'm really excited that I get to race against a guy of that caliber and reputation, so there are no problems with me. It's good to have him here.”
Q: Have you and Jacques Villeneuve put whatever happened last year behind you yet?
Danica Patrick: “I don't know. I saw him in the Rookie meeting and I was like, ‘Oh, hey'. And that was about it (laughter). You know, after the things that have happened, it's hard to have a lot of respect for somebody like that. I respect what he's done in his career; but the way that he treats other drivers on the track, I can't. So, that's all there is to say.”
Q: With guys like (Jacques) Villeneuve in the race this year does that add a wild card factor?
Jimmie Johnson: “I didn't know that but yeah, cautions might go up a little bit based on his Nationwide experience from what I've seen.”
Q: What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the name Jacques Villeneuve?
Clint Bowyer: "Train wreck, extremely fast train, but usually ends up derailed somehow. I don't mean that roust. There has to be a level of respect and it doesn't matter if you're racing for points throughout the season, or just show up and race against the peers of one of the premier levels of all of motorsports.
"If that respect is not there, you're not going to come in and beat and bang on this bunch for long and you're probably going to be frustrated by the end of the day. That's not a threat or anything else.
"We've all seen what will happen in those Nationwide races and it was too bad because there seemed to be one common denominator in a lot of the cautions that came out."
Q: How is it to compete against Jacques Villeneuve this weekend?
Marcos Ambrose: “I've got no issues. I think there are plenty of other drivers that have more issues than me. It's good. I really like Jacques. I watched him win all of those Formula One races and the world championship and I'm really excited that I get to race against a guy of that caliber and reputation, so there are no problems with me. It's good to have him here.”