OCTOBER 13, 2006

A Busch deal for Villeneuve

The latest reports from the United States say that Jacques Villeneuve and Jack Roush are in the final stages of a deal to put the former Formula 1 World Champion, Indy 500 winner and CART Champion into a selected number of NASCAR Busch Series events in 2007. The schedule is yet to be finally agreed but it is certain to include the new Busch Series races which will be taking place on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on August 4. This will put Villeneuve up against the rising stars of the NASCAR world plus Nextel Cup drivers, known as "Buschwhackers" who race in the Busch Series to pick up more prize money. Their involvement increases interest in the second-tier series but means that newcomers rarely get a look in. This year, for example, 26 of the 28 events to date have been won by Nextel Cup drivers while only two new winners have emerged: David Gilliland and Paul Menard.

Roush Racing runs a five-car Busch Series team with Carl Edwards, Todd Kluever and Danny O'Quinn Jr being fulltime with Mark Martin, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth doing selected events. The team sponsors include Pennzoil, Ameriquest Mortgage, Henkel, 3M and the World Financial Group.