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ormer Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve is part of a large field of Canadians who will next week compete in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 of the NASCAR Nationwide series in Montreal.
Thursday Auto123.com spoke with Villeneuve, one week before this major motorsport event.
Villeneuve first said he'd been stunned that his contact with Danica Patrick late in the Road America race in June caused such a stir and got so much attention. He said the same about his post-race television interview in which he declared he was not responsible for the contact.
“That's kind of weird because I got punted really hard earlier in that race and everybody thought it was a good thing... But in regards to the late-race contact, I think it was blown out of proportion because it involved Danica Patrick,” Villeneuve told us.
Was Villeneuve blamed by Penske for what he said on television or for the contact? “Non, not at all. I did not hear a word about it. You know, Road America happened a long time ago and there's been a good number of races since then. At Penske, everybody worked hard and did his job. This whole thing had been amplified, especially here. If someone has something to tell me, he'll do it in Montreal. But I'd be really suprised if that happens,” Villeneuve added.
Villeneuve will drive the No. 22 Dodge Penske in Montreal next week. He would have liked to compete in the Watkins Glen Nationwide race this weekend, but that was not possible. “We will not test the car prior to the race. But that's not a problem. I know the car. And I know the team very well now. Everything will be fine in Montreal,” Villeneuve told us.
“If we can be fast and competitive right from the start in Montreal, it will be a nice start to the weekend. But we have to remember that Penske Racing is switching constructors at the end of the season. We'll see the result of that in Montreal. My performance out on the track will also depend on the amount of work the other teams have accomplished,” Villeneune added.
On a final note, the Canadian took part in his second event of the Australian V-8 Supercars series this past weekend, finishing twice in 24th place. Is he disappointed? “No, not at all. It was much better than the first time. I made good progress and I was much faster. I was not lost like at the first race. I must say however that the team is not putting any effort in the current car because they are also switching constructors next season. But that's ok, and I'm having fun, which is important,” Villeneuve ended.
Thursday Auto123.com spoke with Villeneuve, one week before this major motorsport event.
Villeneuve first said he'd been stunned that his contact with Danica Patrick late in the Road America race in June caused such a stir and got so much attention. He said the same about his post-race television interview in which he declared he was not responsible for the contact.
 |
| Jacques Villeneuve 2011 (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour) |
“That's kind of weird because I got punted really hard earlier in that race and everybody thought it was a good thing... But in regards to the late-race contact, I think it was blown out of proportion because it involved Danica Patrick,” Villeneuve told us.
Was Villeneuve blamed by Penske for what he said on television or for the contact? “Non, not at all. I did not hear a word about it. You know, Road America happened a long time ago and there's been a good number of races since then. At Penske, everybody worked hard and did his job. This whole thing had been amplified, especially here. If someone has something to tell me, he'll do it in Montreal. But I'd be really suprised if that happens,” Villeneuve added.
 |
| Jacques Villeneuve 2011 (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour) |
Villeneuve will drive the No. 22 Dodge Penske in Montreal next week. He would have liked to compete in the Watkins Glen Nationwide race this weekend, but that was not possible. “We will not test the car prior to the race. But that's not a problem. I know the car. And I know the team very well now. Everything will be fine in Montreal,” Villeneuve told us.
“If we can be fast and competitive right from the start in Montreal, it will be a nice start to the weekend. But we have to remember that Penske Racing is switching constructors at the end of the season. We'll see the result of that in Montreal. My performance out on the track will also depend on the amount of work the other teams have accomplished,” Villeneune added.
On a final note, the Canadian took part in his second event of the Australian V-8 Supercars series this past weekend, finishing twice in 24th place. Is he disappointed? “No, not at all. It was much better than the first time. I made good progress and I was much faster. I was not lost like at the first race. I must say however that the team is not putting any effort in the current car because they are also switching constructors next season. But that's ok, and I'm having fun, which is important,” Villeneuve ended.