The announced debut of Formula One and Indianapolis 500 champion Jacques Villeneuve at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sept. 22 was a surprise to the racing world.
It is no surprise, however, that team owner Bill Davis is using the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to prep the 36-year-old Canadian for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition in 2008.
With NASCAR’s new car sharing handling characteristics with the Toyota truck Villeneuve will drive in the season’s final seven races, the connection is obvious.
Villeneuve’s test last week at Chicagoland Speedway impressed teammate and mentor Mike Skinner.
The “rookie” ultimately got within 0.2 second of the 1995 champion and current standings leader’s best lap times.
“We had our ups and downs but after going back to the basics, we were very pleased, ” said Skinner.
“You have to look at the truck racing – they (BDR) are leading the championship and doing really well, ” Villeneuve said about the value of racing in NASCAR Craftsman trucks. “So that is the best place to start to get mileage and to get used to running at those speeds in traffic. ”
Villeneuve is the third Indianapolis 500 champion to compete in the series joining A. J. Foyt and Buddy Rice.
The Canadian isn’t the first Formula One veteran to race a NASCAR Craftsman Truck. Eliseo Salzazar of Chile finished 17th at Watkins Glen International in 1997.
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