Villeneuve comes back, this time in stock car

Villeneuve will try to be the second driver to cross into NASCAR from Formula One in his return to the track. Jose Jordan/Getty Images

Standing on the sidelines, Jacques Villeneuve saw the newly formed path created just for drivers like him. Juan Pablo Montoya currently stands as both founder and only member of NASCAR's Formula One club, the lone former driver of that series to successfully navigate the difficult transition into stock car's top level. Enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts, Juan; you'll soon have company.

The 1997 F1 champ officially became the second driver to make a crossover attempt on Monday, as Villeneuve took laps with Bill Davis Racing equipment in preparation for a September 22nd Truck Series debut in Las Vegas. It's a scenario the Canadian has searched long and hard for the past 12 months, looking for the right opportunity to get his career back on track. This two-day test serves as the first step in that process. "Right now, the key was for me to find out if I actually enjoyed those cars and if I adapted to them," explained Villeneuve after turning over 70 laps throughout the course of the day. "And it's been extremely positive."

Clearly, the learning curve will be steep for a man whose background doesn't really include NASCAR-type vehicles. But after a stint in the 24 Hours of Le Mans earlier this year, the 36-year-old is ready for cars with fenders. Planning to run the No. 27 in honor of his father, former Formula One star Gilles, his first Truck start later this month will be a culmination of a racing journey that now spans all top series in the world. "Le Mans this year was the top of endurance racing, Formula One was the top of open-wheel racing, and NASCAR's the top of cars with a roof," explained an excitable Villeneuve about his new opportunity. "It's an oval, another extreme."

One thing's for sure: extreme change was needed for man who reached the peak of open wheel racing just a decade ago. The '95 Indianapolis 500 winner, he was tabbed for an A-list Formula One ride at Williams the following year, winning the title in '97. But since then, the past decade has seen a once promising career flounder at times. Aligning with teams that had neither the resources nor the engineering to succeed, Villeneuve steadily slid down the ladder in F1. Finally, after parting ways with the middling BMW Sauber team halfway through last season, the Canadian felt his open wheel opportunities just weren't there. "Racing professionally, it has to be at a high level," claimed Villeneuve. "If not, you (might as well) just run go karts and you go and play with friends. I wasn't out there, just ready to race anything for the sake of having a steering wheel in my hand."

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