So it seems that Villeneuve wants to start his Nextel Cup career at Talledega, of all places. Let's see: 1) No taxicab experience at all, and a single back-of-the-pack truck race 2) Restrictor plate race 3) Middle of the Chase 4) First COT race at 'Dega,so nobody knows what the cars will do there. This sounds like a grand idea
Only the marketing people at NASCAR like this idea. Possibly Jacques will take out Juan. But what is the target audience? JPM was "used" to target potential Spanish speaking consimers, but is NASCAR hoping to see a bunch of motorhomes with plates from Quebec at Charlotte??
Gilles has plenty of oval track experience, being a former CART champion and Indy 500 winner. He would hardly be the first open-wheel racer tot ake the plunge directly in NASCAR. That being said, I think he could give Alonso lessons in whining. He will not be as successful in NASCAR as JPM, let alone a Tony Stewart.
JV ran faster laps at Indy in Cart than the IRL runs today, but Talledega dose seem like the deep end.
JV does know how to race, he has a impressive resume. It will be fun watching him head butt the Good Ole Boys!!!!
I think you meant Jacques, not Gilles. In NASCAR, according to a friend a Hendrick, he is being referred to as Jocks. Joke I heard was "let's watch Jocks strap one on". Southern humor? Ted, I think there is a big difference from CART at Indianapolis, and NASCAR at Talledega. Drafting, slipstreaming, is something you do 95% of the time at Talledega. This includes front to rear and side to side, something an open wheel driver does not experience so often. Earnhardt Sr. was a master as this. The complaint is that JV should be started on smaller tracks, probably in the ARCA or Busch series, before going to the track where inevitably there will be a big one. This is really a stupid marketing act, hopefully no one is hurt. And I agree with you, JV will join JPM in the also ran ranks. I don't expect much more out of Franchitti, but maybe Hornish will do OK in NASCAR.
Being a fan of JV, I'll go on record and say I'll consider it a complete success if he manages to qualify #27 into the show. Now, just how to get the words, Shawk Vealnahve , onto the set of Raceday ........ ????
Jeff Gordon says he shouldn't be there. Kyle Busch is upset he's at Talledega. He's driving a make which has been struggling to qualify in the hands of Nascar regulars all year. For Bill Davis Racing. In practice, he was 6th fastest of the eight 'go or go home cars'. But worst of all, he keeps calling his crew chief 'Slew-jairr' and he can't find any decent fois-gras for lunch. Which is why 'd love to see him in.
Not to mention he qualified 6th. 2 Years ago who would have thought all of that ex-F1/ open wheel talent would be in Alabama this weekend. Three Indy 500 winners and 2 Cart Championships, 1 F1 Drivers Championship and an IRL Championship between them all, Not to mention that Montoya out qualifies Gordon again and Scott Speed finishes 7th in his 1st "tin top" race Friday. Strange days in deed.
Only about 14 guys were in qualifying trim. The rest had guaranteed starting spots and were in race trim. J. Gordon didn't even try to put up a decent time. Should be a strange and dangerous start, with the go-or-go-home cars all in the top 8. Hopefully JV will pull down and go to the back of the field early, to run and learn.
I heard he had special gloves made, so he could hold his beer and drive at the same time....Alot of drivers like to utilize their laps, but for his first race, Jacque didn't want to take any chances!!!
are you sure about that? I don't think that is confirmed. I heard they were still testing with helmet mods. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Wait who are your sources?! Thats just crazy and insane! I mean, do you not recall the incident at the 86' Daytona 500 with Blackie Wangerin and his beer helmet? He failed to qualify!
What? You believe JV would partake of une gros Molson Golden??? Peasants. He'll want a '66 Bordeaux , preferably from his own cellar. In which case it will be known as Jacques' Lafite Rothschild. Go now, and make it snappy...... but before you do, he'll need his straw adjusted.....