Former F1 champ Villeneuve completes NASCAR test
By SceneDaily Staff Report
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
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Former Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve completed his two-day test Tuesday in a Bill Davis Racing truck at Chicagoland Speedway.
Villeneuve had not driven on an oval since 1995, the year he won the Indianapolis 500 and the CART championship. BDR Craftsman Truck Series driver Mike Skinner was on hand to help Villeneuve, who watched Skinner make a few laps in the truck before taking to the 1.5-mile track.
By the end of the first day, Villeneuve was within two-tenths of a second of Skinner's time, BDR reported.
Villeneuve went even faster the second day, posting a fastest lap of 31 seconds. The trucks don't run Chicagoland, but Bill Lester holds the truck qualifying record at Kansas Speedway - a track similar to Chicago - at 31.100 seconds.
"It was a great test," Villeneuve said in a news release. "I missed racing on ovals, so it has been a lot of fun the last few days. I definitely learned a lot. The truck has a lot more grip then I thought it was going to have. It turns very well. It took a little getting used to at first, but I am very comfortable in it now."
The team said Villeneuve would make his first NASCAR start in the truck race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sept. 22 and run the remaining six truck races after that.
The release said Villeneuve "could possibly" make his Nextel Cup debut before the end of the season.
"Jacques did very well [at the test]," BDR truck team manager Mark Chambers said. "He gives incredible feedback and adapted to the truck extremely well. Overall, I would have to say that he was very impressive on and off the track. He will be a great asset to BDR."
- Mentioned Drivers:
- Mike Skinner
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