Villenueve to Nascar - BDR and Truck series

Ok. I looked around and didn't see an announcement about this...

http://msn.foxsports...150718?MSNHPHMA

"A little more than a year after Ganassi Racing announced Juan Pablo Montoya's plans to race in the Nextel Cup Series, Jacques Villeneuve will begin his own stock car journey with Bill Davis Racing. "

Ok I found this but can't delete it now. Mod?

Originally posted by pacwest
Ok. I looked around and didn't see an announcement about this...

http://msn.foxsports...150718?MSNHPHMA

"A little more than a year after Ganassi Racing announced Juan Pablo Montoya's plans to race in the Nextel Cup Series, Jacques Villeneuve will begin his own stock car journey with Bill Davis Racing. "

Ok I found this but can't delete it now. Mod?

http://forums.autosp...930#post2826930

Nevermind Montoya now here's a guy that can wind up a few good ol' boys once he starts bitching.

So what's the story for Jacques? He lost his ride because of lack of sponsorship?

How is that possible? I was expecting at least some Canadian sponsors to support him?
Or was Pollock really that good of a manager??

He seemed to be doing really well in testing.

Lack of sponsorship it is. They say he will be right back in the car once he lands a major sponsor, apparantly he had one with the suits already done up, deal pretty much done. Then it fell through. He's been quick, a bit scrappy at times but thats what you expect from a start up rookie. He was quick in trucks, went straight to Cup, had a pretty good debut in his first race, qualifying high then finishing 21st.

Daytona was a struggle though. He seemed to be quick in qualifying but caught some winds which affected his pace so he placed 17th. Then he needed to get through the duels, again he seemed to have good speed but the car's handling went to the **** and it was way loose. He lost it and subsequently lost his chance to qualify for the race.

He has showed plenty of potential for someone still pretty raw to stock cars but his luck with sponsorship has been pretty dismal. I think Pollock has something to do with it. Remember the rumours about Roush racing and Jacques? Came to nothing. Then he has potential sponsors lined up, again came to nothing. Pollock and he split, Jacques left to pick up the pieces.

Lets hope he gets it all sorted soonish and he can get back in that racecar and get some quality mileage. To add to that, he's been confirmed for another tilt at Le Mans with Peugeot.

Originally posted by former champ
Lack of sponsorship it is. They say he will be right back in the car once he lands a major sponsor, apparantly he had one with the suits already done up, deal pretty much done. Then it fell through. He's been quick, a bit scrappy at times but thats what you expect from a start up rookie. He was quick in trucks, went straight to Cup, had a pretty good debut in his first race, qualifying high then finishing 21st.

Daytona was a struggle though. He seemed to be quick in qualifying but caught some winds which affected his pace so he placed 17th. Then he needed to get through the duels, again he seemed to have good speed but the car's handling went to the **** and it was way loose. He lost it and subsequently lost his chance to qualify for the race.

He has showed plenty of potential for someone still pretty raw to stock cars but his luck with sponsorship has been pretty dismal. I think Pollock has something to do with it. Remember the rumours about Roush racing and Jacques? Came to nothing. Then he has potential sponsors lined up, again came to nothing. Pollock and he split, Jacques left to pick up the pieces.

Lets hope he gets it all sorted soonish and he can get back in that racecar and get some quality mileage. To add to that, he's been confirmed for another tilt at Le Mans with Peugeot.

I agree entirely. It is everyone else's fault that he is not yet NASCAR (and World Wrestlling Federation) Champion.

But he will (as usual) definitely win every championship in the world next year.

Originally posted by former champ
He has showed plenty of potential for someone still pretty raw to stock cars but his luck with sponsorship has been pretty dismal. I think Pollock has something to do with it. Remember the rumours about Roush racing and Jacques? Came to nothing. Then he has potential sponsors lined up, again came to nothing. Pollock and he split, Jacques left to pick up the pieces.

I don't know if you read French, but that's pretty close to what Villeneuve himself says in an interview that was published last Saturday (by the Montreal newspaper, La Presse) :

http://monvolant.cyb...ste-son-tir.php

http://www.grandprix...ns/ns20040.html

Jacques dumped apparently

Originally posted by Cheap Wine Alesi
http://www.grandprix...ns/ns20040.html

Jacques dumped apparently

lol - only europeans can be so harsh on the guy using so little words.

for some reason, which i can only attribute to his previous manager, J.V. bought himself a new team at BDR.. BDR didn't have enough sponsors to run two cup cars, so J.V. funded his rides last year and donated them to unicef. - expecting the team and his management group to get sponsors. - but all the stuff with changing management cut in on his time to get sponsors for the start of the season with a team outside of the top 35.

Mike Skinner and Johnny Benson have driver sponsors in the truck series who are going to pitch in extra money for disounted cup hoods/pannels which should fund the team race by race for a while - and they are going to focus on getting the car into the top 35 in the first dozzen races - while J.V. works on geting his managment and sponsor packages together. - all the talk is that he just ran out of time, and will be back once everything else is in place.

What happens is like this: JV trusted Craig Pollock to find him sponsorship for the 08 season, but Pollock seemed to be only interested in buying out BDR, thus putting all his efforts in aquiring the team. When the deal fell through, JV suddenly realized that Pollock was puttting all of his marbles on this deal and not in securing sponsorship for him.

Once this happened, it was little too late for Villeneuve to close a deal and decided to split with the scot with immediate effect. Trying to pick up the pieces, JV then asked Barry Green to come in and help him out with sponsors.

So yeah, Villeneuve was screwed by Pollock. And according to Bill Davis, Pollock still owes him money in regards to the potential buyout.

Originally posted by WildmouseX


lol - only europeans can be so harsh on the guy using so little words.

for some reason, which i can only attribute to his previous manager, J.V. bought himself a new team at BDR.. BDR didn't have enough sponsors to run two cup cars, so J.V. funded his rides last year and donated them to unicef. - expecting the team and his management group to get sponsors. - but all the stuff with changing management cut in on his time to get sponsors for the start of the season with a team outside of the top 35.

Mike Skinner and Johnny Benson have driver sponsors in the truck series who are going to pitch in extra money for disounted cup hoods/pannels which should fund the team race by race for a while - and they are going to focus on getting the car into the top 35 in the first dozzen races - while J.V. works on geting his managment and sponsor packages together. - all the talk is that he just ran out of time, and will be back once everything else is in place.

So, he's been dumped in other words.

his old management team failed to get the sponsors needed to run the team, so he is given time to focus on getting his new team in place.....while BDR keep the team finacially idol and try to bust into the top 35 for when he comes back.

i don't consider it being dumped, i consider it taking the best option to get everything in place to make a serious run at it l8r on.

The crew chief of the 27 car, 'Slugger' Labbe is adament that JV will return to the team. He says that Villeneuve has the talent to make it in this series. This guy must know something we don't know because he was Michael Waltrip's crew chief when he won his first 500.

Here's a posted JV quote I found on the forum at JV-World.com

"At the point where I found out things had progressed much less than Craig Pollock said, I ended our business relationship. But I had never handled these affairs with sponsors in this setting. I found myself on my own, without any experience. I tried to learn on the go these last few weeks, and to establish contacts, but it was a fantasy. I had never done that. And then, I understood to try and attain a sponsor for 5 million knowing that this would only make it possible to do a quarter of the season would not accomplish anything."

"But I will not give up. Barry Green will help me in the US. Others will help me in Quebec and Canada. I will build a solid business plan so investors will clearly see their advantage in sponsoring NASCAR. I, at least, proved that I could be very quick in NASCAR even if the car at Daytona was set up very poorly. I was in the car and you could say that I was fish-tailing. But there was no point in lifting, I was going to be at the front, or I was going to drop out. At least, I had a taste of this mythical race. I now know what must happen. I will be battle-hardened..."


Well, I guess I won't get to see him race in Las Vegas later this month. :

On the bright side, now he'll be able to completely focus on preparing for Le Mans.

Originally posted by fastlegs
Here's a posted JV quote I found on the forum at JV-World.com

"At the point where I found out things had progressed much less than Craig Pollock said, I ended our business relationship. But I had never handled these affairs with sponsors in this setting. I found myself on my own, without any experience. I tried to learn on the go these last few weeks, and to establish contacts, but it was a fantasy. I had never done that. And then, I understood to try and attain a sponsor for 5 million knowing that this would only make it possible to do a quarter of the season would not accomplish anything."

"But I will not give up. Barry Green will help me in the US. Others will help me in Quebec and Canada. I will build a solid business plan so investors will clearly see their advantage in sponsoring NASCAR. I, at least, proved that I could be very quick in NASCAR even if the car at Daytona was set up very poorly. I was in the car and you could say that I was fish-tailing. But there was no point in lifting, I was going to be at the front, or I was going to drop out. At least, I had a taste of this mythical race. I now know what must happen. I will be battle-hardened..."

That all makes sense. Thanks for that.

Sounds like he's being very realistic about it. Here's hoping we see him at Daytona with a fully sponsored package in 2009.

Originally posted by WildmouseX


lol - only europeans can be so harsh on the guy using so little words.

Saward is American, unfortunately. That might be the worst thing I've read on that site. It's misleading at best, but more factually inaccurate.

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld


Saward is American, unfortunately.

I thought he was born in the UK?

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld


Saward is American, unfortunately. That might be the worst thing I've read on that site. It's misleading at best, but more factually inaccurate.

Joe Saward was born in London in 1961.

I was born in Italy, I'm not Italian.

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
I was born in Italy, I'm not Italian.

You've probably met Joe Saward Ross, I've only read most of his Autosport stuff and a couple of his books. I was thrown by a 1989 publisher's resumé that told me he was born in London to two English parents, and was educated at an English school and London University, following which he worked for the UK press. Easy mistake to make, but I'm not trying to start an OT argument here.

Originally posted by se7en_24

So, he's been dumped in other words.

how do you see that as being dumped?

Being dumped is what happened to Villeneuve at BMW in 06. This is slightly different, at the very least.

Originally posted by fastlegs
Here's a posted JV quote I found on the forum at JV-World.com

"At the point where I found out things had progressed much less than Craig Pollock said, I ended our business relationship. But I had never handled these affairs with sponsors in this setting. I found myself on my own, without any experience. I tried to learn on the go these last few weeks, and to establish contacts, but it was a fantasy. I had never done that. And then, I understood to try and attain a sponsor for 5 million knowing that this would only make it possible to do a quarter of the season would not accomplish anything."

"But I will not give up. Barry Green will help me in the US. Others will help me in Quebec and Canada. I will build a solid business plan so investors will clearly see their advantage in sponsoring NASCAR. I, at least, proved that I could be very quick in NASCAR even if the car at Daytona was set up very poorly. I was in the car and you could say that I was fish-tailing. But there was no point in lifting, I was going to be at the front, or I was going to drop out. At least, I had a taste of this mythical race. I now know what must happen. I will be battle-hardened..."

thanks for that fastlegs. Good to see Jacques view of things, he'll be back for sure.

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
I was born in Italy, I'm not Italian.

When was he based in America?

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
I was born in Italy, I'm not Italian.

We will call you "euroboy" from now on.

Originally posted by FLB

I don't know if you read French, but that's pretty close to what Villeneuve himself says in an interview that was published last Saturday (by the Montreal newspaper, La Presse) :

http://monvolant.cyb...ste-son-tir.php

Not a bad summary I managed then hey.

FYI - Villeneuve is scheduled to meet the press in Montreal tomorrow to talk about his racing plans. He will be discussing his NASCAR & Le Mans future as a driver.

Also, from what I know, Villeneuve is also reuniting with the public relations company Torchia Communications. The previously worked together in JV's Atlantic / CART days under the Player's banner.

i know that george gillette from GEM has spoken that he is freinds with JV, i wouldn't expect a move over to GEM, as their fighting to get into the top 35 too - but there could very well be alot of sponsor help coming his way.

hopefully mike and johny can get some luck over the next month and get the 27 into the top 35 for J.V. - they've got the skill to get the job done.

"We know that Jacques has the talent and the desire to be in NASCAR and are diligently working on a long-term relationship with him," team owner Bill Davis said in a statement.

first word about todays press confrence

MONTREAL - Former Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve reaffirmed his intention to earn a regular ride in NASCAR on Wednesday.

Barry Green, who owned IndyCar teams that Villeneuve rode to championships in the 1990s, will work with the native of Iberville, Que., to find the sponsors he needs to get a full-time ride, either in the Sprint Cup or Nationwide series.

They have also hired public relations firm Torchia Communications to help in the search.

More than 50 media members turned out to a news conference at Villeneuve's restaurant Newtown for an update on his progress and racing plans

http://canadianpress...eaufGf3Xhr5mh4A

Video link to Press Conference


Villeneuve who was accompanied by Barry Green mentionned: "I took over everything about one month ago. Things were not progressing as I had thought. We are looking for something long term. We want to work on something that will not upset people after six months. We'll take the necessary time to make the adjustments and that is part of the plans." Asked about a possibility of running the nationwide race in Montreal. " It would be a nice place to start, but if it happens before, that's even better. We want to take our time"

Barry Green added: "Montreal would be a fantastic place to start. Bill Davis' team is still an option, but we will be discussing with other teams. We want to keep our options open."

Lets hope for JV that he and his new/old business people can get together this 5 million sponsor package.

I still wonder why his collaboration with Pollock stopped, and you'd expect to see some proper handover, with this level of sponsorship package in the making.

Originally posted by glorius&victorius
Lets hope for JV that he and his new/old business people can get together this 5 million sponsor package.

I still wonder why his collaboration with Pollock stopped, and you'd expect to see some proper handover, with this level of sponsorship package in the making.

It ended because Pollock was putting his interests ( buying BDR ) before that of his driver. There were frictions developing between Bill Davis and Pollock as he attempted to take over the team. Once things did not materialize, things went sour between Davis and Pollock. As I said before, Davis has said publicly that Pollock, not Villeneuve, still owes him money.

I'd love to hear Pollock's side of this story.

Pollock wanted to make a second BAR fiasco. Good riddance JV, but a couple of years to late

Sounds like JV is getting his head on straight. Got to take care of business before you can start racing competitively, not the other way around.

I think he will find a good sponsor and it will work out, but I hope he starts in Nationwide. With some success, he can build a Canadian fanbase that can transition to Cup along with him and sponsor. One step at a time.

I read the Autosport report on JV's press conference, I find it funny how the word "dropped" was used loosely.
"Villeneuve crashed his No. 27 Toyota Camry at Daytona International Speedway last Thursday during qualifying for the Daytona 500. Bill Davis Racing dropped Villeneuve after he failed to qualify."


Same with grandprix.com:
"Jacques Villeneuve has been dropped by the Bill Davis Racing NASCAR team after hitting a wall and triggering a multi-car accident during a qualifying race for the Daytona 500."


I mean, we all know the circumstances, right? We all know what Bill Davis and slugger has to say.
I just have a sense that there are a lot of people would kick you some more while you are down.
From what I can observe, JV has what it takes to be successful NASCAR, just need to have the right package.
Hey, full support for the new effort with Green.

Originally posted by Denier
Sounds like JV is getting his head on straight. Got to take care of business before you can start racing competitively, not the other way around.

I think he will find a good sponsor and it will work out, but I hope he starts in Nationwide. With some success, he can build a Canadian fanbase that can transition to Cup along with him and sponsor. One step at a time.

Not that sounds like proper plan to me

Have to say I am pretty happy to hear Barry Green is right on board with Villeneuve. Anyone remember the rumours back in around 2000 of Green taking over as team principal of BAR? Who knows how things may have gone had that happened but, for now, its better late than never that Barry is helping Jacques with this.

As for Pollock, he has dropped enourmously in my estimation. While many were ready to slate him back and forth for ruining JV's F1 career with that ego driven team, I always had the opinion that Jacques was a grown man and could make his own decisions. Going to BAR was JV's choice, CP didn't hold a gun to his head. Same in 2000 when Jacques re-signed with the team instead of exploring other (better) offers.

That said, given Jacques supported him at BAR (and ultimately shot himself in the foot) and has stuck with him all this time, I find it incredible that Pollock made an absolute mess of getting JV ready to go for NASCAR. It's been said that Roush racing were ready to do a deal with Villeneuve, until Pollock demanded a role on the team. Game over. Gillett apparantly was keen also, until Pollock said JV wouldn't be doing the Montral Busch race, again game over there. Then he ****ed up things at BDR by trying to take over the team instead of working on consolidating Villeneuve's package for a full time schedule.

Utterly incredible. I'm in disbelief that JV has stuck with Craig for this long, makes you wonder if it was generally Pollocks presence that stopped Jacques ever getting back in with a top team in F1. Wouldn't discount it, given the shambles that's gone on in NASCAR recently for them.

Pollock should have been willing to move heaven and earth for JV since he re-signed for BAR and backed him right up until he got the boot. Instead, Craig has seemingly screwed him further and further, to the point that no F1 team wanted to touch him DESPITE him still being competitive and quick (after the BAR debacle) and now the same with NASCAR teams and sponsors.

Amazing really. I'm looking forward to the day a comprehensive insight into JV's racing career hits the shelves, it will be fascinating to know some of the **** that went on behind the scenes with that tool as his manager. Credit where credits due, he was great for Jacques early on but since the beginning of BAR, Pollock has been a cancer on his career and the worst thing is Villeneuve kept the faith even when pissing him off would mean he may even still be in F1 today and have maybe had further success. Unbelievable.

Bring on the future.

Originally posted by glorius&victorius
Lets hope for JV that he and his new/old business people can get together this 5 million sponsor package.

5mil wont buy you much in NASCAR.

'Le Journal de Montreal' is reporting this morning that Red Bull, Gillett-Evernham, Roush Fenway & DEI previously expressed interest in setting up a program with Villeneuve, but Pollock refused their approach.

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld


5mil wont buy you much in NASCAR.

It should buy a full year in Nationwide though.
I wonder how much Red Bull put up for Scott Speeds ARCA season.

I seem to remember that Jacques Villeneuve was 2nd behind Michael Schumacher in the F1 career earnings list. If he really wants to race, why doesn't he stick his hand in his pocket till the sponsor comes along.

Originally posted by Josta
I seem to remember that Jacques Villeneuve was 2nd behind Michael Schumacher in the F1 career earnings list. If he really wants to race, why doesn't he stick his hand in his pocket till the sponsor comes along.

i think all the races he did last year were out of his pocket, sponsorships in nascar are fairly expensive - he's probably already spent everything he intented too and was expecting CP to get the sponsors together instead of spending all his time trying to buy and take over BDR.

Originally posted by WildmouseX


i think all the races he did last year were out of his pocket, sponsorships in nascar are fairly expensive - he's probably already spent everything he intented too and was expecting CP to get the sponsors together instead of spending all his time trying to buy and take over BDR.

It was indeed money 'out of his pocket' last year.

Originally posted by Josta
I seem to remember that Jacques Villeneuve was 2nd behind Michael Schumacher in the F1 career earnings list. If he really wants to race, why doesn't he stick his hand in his pocket till the sponsor comes along.

UNICEF doesn't sponsor nascar racers. If Jacques raced a full unicef livery last year, it's because the whole space on the car was his and he could do with it as he pleased. Which means he spent his own bucks. Maybe about 4 to 6 million of them if rumour in Montreal has it right.

As for career earnings, when was that list posted? 2000? Ralf earned a Jacques-like salary for a few good years, and he's just one example.

Originally posted by MaxScelerate
As for career earnings, when was that list posted? 2000? Ralf earned a Jacques-like salary for a few good years, and he's just one example.

I'm pretty sure right through his BAR tenure, Villeneuve was clearly the 2nd highest paid driver in F1. Don't think Ralf's salary matched that of Jacques, although it would have been 3rd highest.

I seem to recall in an F1 Racing mag they had a table some years ago of drivers salaries on a weekly basis. JV was around $500,000 a week and that was comfortably in front of anyone bar Schumacher, who was on around $800,000 a week. Think that was around 2000.

Originally posted by cheesy poofs
'Le Journal de Montreal' is reporting this morning that Red Bull, Gillett-Evernham, Roush Fenway & DEI previously expressed interest in setting up a program with Villeneuve, but Pollock refused their approach.

That is just ridiculous. What I want to know is WHY Pollock refused their approaches and, more importantly, WHY Villeneuve let him do that. I just don't understand it.

Originally posted by JForce

I thought he was signed to race with Peugeot at Le Mans again this year?

;)

It's an all you can eat buffet in the team hospitality.

Originally posted by former champ


I thought he was signed to race with Peugeot at Le Mans again this year?

;)

Which is a mistake, I think I'd be reluctant to commit to sponsorship of a driver who's just told me he can't be arsed to do the full Nascar season.

(LeMans clashes with the Michigan round)

Originally posted by former champ


That is just ridiculous. What I want to know is WHY Pollock refused their approaches and, more importantly, WHY Villeneuve let him do that. I just don't understand it.

My guess is that Villeneuve was simply not told or informed better about the other offers since Pollock was eying a buy-out of BDR all along.