Villeneuve eyes Cup in '08 - Page 2

VilleneuveTracy · 29 Aug 2007, 23:53 (Ref:1999706)

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingfloopy

It's great to see him coming over to NASCAR. I think he'll struggle next year though. BDR was great 5 years or so ago, but they haven't been a top performer since then.

That is true but you have to look at why BDR faded. They were caught flirting with Toyota and lost factory support from Dodge. That was the main source of their sudden and great decline. This year they have improved markedly with Toyota factory backing. What is holding them back is the fact that the Toyota is simply not a good car at this point. None of the Toyota teams consistently run up front. Next year as the Toyota improves I think BDR will improve substantially as well. The team is better than its results indicate and it has been punching above its weight this year, occasionally running very well (i.e. California, Richmond).

Do I think BDR will be a championship team next year? No. I don't know if BDR will ever reach that level. At its height it was a top 10 team that could win 1-2 races a year. However, I expect BDR to be solid next year. I would target a top 20 finish in the points for JV, using JPM as a baseline. JPM will likely wind up in the top 15 this year. What I hope is that JV does well with BDR, perhaps even make the Chase in 2009 or 2010 (I believe JPM will be in it next year), win a few races and then gets a ride with a top-tier team.

T'internet Yogi · 30 Aug 2007, 16:03 (Ref:2000159)

Going to be tough for JV to qualify that 36 car. Mayfield struggled with it, and he's a Cup race winner. I agree with kingfloppy, its oging to be like allmendinger unless he flies in trucks

Dutton · 30 Aug 2007, 19:07 (Ref:2000269)

His driving approach coming together with the CTS...could be quite interesting.

Kirk · 30 Aug 2007, 19:12 (Ref:2000272)

Given that he is not far off Skinner's pace hopefully that will translate into at least be able to qualify.

It would be very disappointing if he didn't qualify .... and discouraging for JV. He has seen too many lean years in F1 already.

Dutton · 30 Aug 2007, 19:43 (Ref:2000304)

He needs to hope it works from the off, certainly.

He simply isn't good enough to drag a bad thing forwards.

Kirk · 30 Aug 2007, 23:04 (Ref:2000485)

Let me reword that, if I may:

He simply isn't experienced enough to drag a bad thing forwards ......

and that will change, and rather quickly I think

Dutton · 30 Aug 2007, 23:12 (Ref:2000493)

You may re-word all you want, but I am not going to change my wording.

I have nothing against the guy, and he is good enough to get the job done when the package is right, but he is not truly top-drawer. You need to be truly top-drawer to drag a bad thing forward.

That is my opinion and it is not going to change.

If he hits the ground running, then there won't be a problem (in the short-to-medium term, at least).

Kirk · 31 Aug 2007, 00:22 (Ref:2000522)

Well Labbe is a lot closer to the action than you and he disagrees wholeheartedly I'd say... and I quote:

"All day long, from the first run right off the track he was spitting it out," Labbe said. "Most drivers are just it's tight or it's loose. You have to beat it out of them, where is it tight, where is it loose. JV, he started on the entry, late entry, center, center-off, he broke down a corner. I guess it's from his Formula 1 days where all the engineers have the information in front of them. He did a super job. The input was tremendous, one of the best I've ever heard."

Pretty high praise, and this only day 1. JV is a quick study as testified by most anyone that has worked with him. I agree it won't happen overnight but maybe it will happen sooner than later ( based on the above assessment)

Dutton · 31 Aug 2007, 02:13 (Ref:2000553)

I didn't say he wasn't good at what he did. You do not achieve what he has without being able to do the job with what you have got.

I am not questioning that.

I think this discussion should just end now; I suspect we are getting at different things.

Knowlesy · 31 Aug 2007, 15:47 (Ref:2000929)

This really is becoming a copy of the F1 forum, circa 2003 isn't it?

Kirk · 31 Aug 2007, 16:38 (Ref:2000953)

Yes it is knowlesy. NASCAR media coverage should prove to be more factual than we get in the rumour-laden F1 world. IF a driver is doing a good job we will likely know about it. There'll still be politics however.

As for JV's first few days on the job: I think he will be more motivated than ever with the support his new team is giving him. It's refreshing.

btw ... if you or anyone else is interested, apparently TSN.ca has some video coverage of his testing to date.

VilleneuveTracy · 31 Aug 2007, 22:03 (Ref:2001095)

Quote:

Originally Posted by T'internet Yogi

Going to be tough for JV to qualify that 36 car. Mayfield struggled with it, and he's a Cup race winner. I agree with kingfloppy, its oging to be like allmendinger unless he flies in trucks

Mayfield used to be a solid driver but he has been horrible over the past two seasons. Dave Blaney shows that team has a lot more potential than Mayfield would lead one to believe it has. The key for JV next year will be to make the first four races and hence make it into the top 35 in points. If he can do that he will be in good shape. I expect that Toyota will be competitive next season--especially since Gibbs is joining the Toyota camp.

Jimmy Magnusson · 1 Sep 2007, 00:34 (Ref:2001138)

I just found a fantastic quote from Grand Prix' 1998 Formula One season review

Quote:

Williams had its worst season since 1988 and failed to win a race. Jacques Villeneuve nonetheless drove his socks off on most occasions and did an impressive job. His switch to the new British American Racing is a triumph of friendships over logic but there are no laws against committing career suicide and whatever happens Jacques bank manager is not going to be complaining...

Last2LiftOff · 1 Sep 2007, 01:00 (Ref:2001142)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirk

btw ... if you or anyone else is interested, apparently TSN.ca has some video coverage of his testing to date.

Hey, No. 27.....ala CART?

http://broadband.tsn.ca/?vid=12595

Thanks for that Kirk.

muggle not · 1 Sep 2007, 01:02 (Ref:2001143)

I will be AWOL for a couple weeks.

No more O.W. drivers allowed in Nascar until I return.

luke · 6 Sep 2007, 21:16 (Ref:2005668)

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/62089

Hazza · 7 Sep 2007, 01:24 (Ref:2005757)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Last2LiftOff

Hey, No. 27.....ala CART?

http://broadband.tsn.ca/?vid=12595

Thanks for that Kirk.

Technically, it's 27 ala the guy in your avatar.

Which to me is much cooler.

Knowlesy · 11 Sep 2007, 17:36 (Ref:2009511)

Well, Jacques has completed his first runs at Talladega and ran good in the draft and everything.

Talladega is pretty straightforward in a testing situation, but it's still nice to run well all the same.

Kirk · 11 Sep 2007, 22:06 (Ref:2009774)

So far so good. He's ahead of my expectations, and I think that of BDR as well.

VilleneuveTracy · 12 Sep 2007, 16:57 (Ref:2010311)

He did well, made friends, including luminaries such as Dale Jr. and Jimmie Johnson. According to Pitpass Jr. was "positive" about Villeneuve's performance as they ran together in a 2 car pack for a while. At one point JV and JJ hooked up and moved through the pack! This is a good sign. As to speed, he was the fastest Toyota, although mid-pack overall, but laptimes during Talladega tests mean little. The key is whether the car drafts well.

JV's crew chief: ""He's done very well in the Car of Tomorrow and performed well in all the draft sessions. He's really made some solid runs in this test and has been very impressive. I couldn't be any happier with what's going on right now."

VilleneuveTracy · 13 Sep 2007, 06:10 (Ref:2010786)

JV third fastest in a drafting session! Of course, as I said earlier, speeds mean little at Talladega but it is good to see "Jacques Villeneuve" near the top of the leaderboard.

Quote:

During Monday afternoon's drafting session, Dale Earnhardt Inc. driver Paul Menard found himself at the front of the pack with a speed of 196.165 mph.

Tuesday morning's drafting session had Menard at the front again in his No. 15 Chevrolet with a speed of 191.685, but, surprisingly, third-quickest was Villeneuve at 191.130 mph.

"The test has been going great and it has been a lot of fun to get out there with so many talented drivers. To be running in the middle of the pack with them is great and the fact that they trust me enough to stay behind me is good,'' said Villeneuve, who will drive a Bill Davis Racing truck at Las Vegas on Sept. 22. "The first day we were in the pack with several other cars and someone started to slow down up front, it got a little messy there for a moment, but nothing bad happened. I have just been trying to learn the draft and learn what the other cars are doing -- overall it has been a lot of fun."

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7008495799

Last2LiftOff · 21 Sep 2007, 10:31 (Ref:2019598)

Hey, is Jacques not running in the truck series this weekend, and presumably it'll be televised? Anybody know the particulars? Thanking you in advance...yada, yada, yada.

muggle not · 21 Sep 2007, 14:56 (Ref:2019743)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Last2LiftOff

Hey, is Jacques not running in the truck series this weekend, and presumably it'll be televised? Anybody know the particulars? Thanking you in advance...yada, yada, yada.

The lineup shows JV starting in 27th position in tomorrows truck race.

Knowlesy · 21 Sep 2007, 15:15 (Ref:2019759)

Convenient!

johntt · 21 Sep 2007, 15:43 (Ref:2019789)

Quote:

Originally Posted by muggle not

The lineup shows JV starting in 27th position in tomorrows truck race.

http://www.nascar.com/races/truck/20...ntry_list.html

Thats not the starting position - thats the entry list!

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