Those who have followed the post-Talladega Nights stream of Formula One refugees fleeing to NASCAR will be happy to learn that former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has been awarded Rookie of the Year in the Nextel Cup.

The announcement of Montoya's citation comes right after the series' season closer at Homestead, where Jimmie Johnson took the title after a hot season-long showdown with teammate and title rival Jeff Gordon.

Montoya becomes the fourth Rookie of the Year for Texaco/Havoline Racing, who, in their 21 years in NASCAR have also sponsored star newcomers Davey Allison (who got the award in 1987), Kenny Irwin, Jr. (1998) and Jamie McMurray (2003). Montoya's award also calls to memory the Rookie of the Year award which fellow former F1 driver Robert Doornbos took this year in Champ Cars with Team Minardi USA, which likewise crossed the ocean to oval tracks for this past season. They're coming for you, Ricky Bobby.

Press release after the jump.

[Source: Chip Ganassi Racing]

Continue reading Montoya of the Year

Montoya of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Nov 2007 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Team-mates and title rivals Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson at Homestead

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: NASCAR Nextel Cup wraps up at Homestead

SPOILER ALERT: NASCAR Nextel Cup wraps up at Homestead originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We just can't seem to get enough of Jacques Villeneuve's impending switch to NASCAR. Maybe it's the converging of the two worlds of motorsports, the tragic failure of a one-time king, his heroic stature in this writer's home town, the legendary association of the name.... The latest news on JV's deal with Roush Racing comes from the Globe & Mail, one of Canada's largest national newspapers.

While at first we reported that Villeneuve was looking for sponsorship to start his own team with assistance from Roush, it now seems the sponsorship cash is to pay his way into a Roush racing seat.

The deal would start Jacques in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2007. (Yeah, that's right...from F1 cars to pick-up trucks.) Later in the season, he'd move on to the second-tier Busch Series, which will feature a race in the champ's hometown of Montreal next year on the F1 circuit that bears his father's name. If and when Jacques would graduate to the top-level Nextel Cup will likely be determined by how he does in Craftsman and Busch. Bonne chance, Jacques!

[Source: F1i.com]

Update: Villeneuve's NASCAR deal originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Dec 2006 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The latest reports in the saga of Jacques Villeneuve's impending switch to stock cars say it won't be happening just yet.

As we reported earlier, the former world champion was talking with Roush Racing, one of the biggest outfits in stock cars, to race in the second-tier Busch series for 2007 in preparation for an anticipated assault on the big-league Nextel Cup for 2008. Roush is now calling any such prospect "an outside shot", leaving the French Canadian driver without a ride for next year.

With a Busch race scheduled for Villeneuve's home town of Montreal next season, he had looked like a shoe-in, holding the F1, CART and Indy 500 titles, but it looks like he may have to start even smaller - like fellow defected F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has - if he hopes to make it in the world of moonshine racing.

Related posts:

• Villeneuve headed for the Busch leagues
• Reports: Villeneuve signed NASCAR deal with Roush
• Mais, oui! NASCAR developing a French connection?

[Source: GrandPrix.com]

Not coming for you, Ricky Bobby: NASCAR sans Villeneuve in 07 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Nov 2006 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rumors and speculation have been circulating (partially self-fueled) of Jacques Villeneuve moving to NASCAR since the former world champion lost his race seat with BMW-Sauber that put the final nail in the proverbial coffin of his atrophying F1 career. The latest reports place Villeneuve in a stock car for a few events next season in the Busch Series for Roush Racing.

Given recent developments, we doubt they'd miss the opportunity to put JV in the Busch race at the track that bears his father's name in his home town: the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, scheduled for August 4.

The Busch Series is a step below the top-tier Nextel Cup where NASCAR's up-and-coming stars learn the ropes, and where Nextel Cup racers compete as well for a little extra practice (and prize cash). Like Juan Pablo Montoya (who's started even lower in the ARCA series when he switched from F1 to stock cars), racing in the Busch Series should give Villeneuve the opportunity to acclimate to stock car racing, though as a former Champ Car champ and Indy 500 winner, Jacques knows his way around an oval track.

Related posts:

• Canadian race shuffle: NASCAR comes to Montreal, CART moves to Tremblant
• Reports: Villeneuve signed NASCAR deal with Roush
• Mais, oui! NASCAR developing a French connection?
  

[Source: GrandPrix.com]

Villeneuve headed for the Busch leagues originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Oct 2006 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rand McNally launches nav service for mobile phones originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 May 2006 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading [Not TiVoSafe] Motorsports Highlights: April 22-23

[Not TiVoSafe] Motorsports Highlights: April 22-23 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Apr 2006 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.