Report: F1 driver Villeneuve signs with Roush Racing ESPN.com news services
Another Formula One driver is reportedly making the leap to NASCAR next year.
Jacques Villeneuve has signed a deal with Roush Racing and will move back to Canada from his current base in Europe, according to a report in the Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport.
When contacted by ESPN, Roush Racing said the story is not true and that Villeneuve has not signed with them.
However, according to a report on TSN of Canada's Web site, reporters for La Presse spotted Villeneuve and his wife Tuesday in Montreal. When asked about the Italian report, Villeneuve smiled and said, "I'm retired." Villeneuve also said "they're only rumors" when asked if he was moving to Montreal but didn't deny the report.
If Villeneuve were to sign with Roush Racing, he would likely take the opening left by Mark Martin, who is scheduled to retire at the end of the season. Roush also has six cars in the Busch Series, but Villeneuve has said that if he were to run in NASCAR, it would likely be at the Nextel Cup level.
F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya will race for Chip Ganassi Racing in 2007.
Boy, a number of F1 drivers are wanting to jump ship now. I guess they realize where the real money is.
I do not think any one is jumping ship. Compairing F1 to NASCAR is like apples to oranges. These drivers are done in F1 and looking to keep racing. It will be interesting to see how they do in these cars.
Drivers make considerably more in F1 than they do in Nascar. I think its more Nascar has become the supreme racing league in many eyes in more ways than one.
It has better racing, solid fanbase, merchandising is through the roof, and not to mention, the marketibility of the drivers makes for a good case of Fame. And that is what these guys really crave.
That is why I think these drivers are coming to Nascar. Let's not forget that Gordon, Stewart, Andretti, Foyt, and many others have come from other series to try their hand at stock car racing, not to mention all the sprint car drivers who 'graduate' to stock cars.