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Villeneuve to Make Nationwide Return in Montreal

He may not be that optimistic about making his Formula One return, but Canadian driver Jacques Villeneuve could certainly not miss the Montreal round of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, scheduled for late August.

The former F1 champion was today confirmed by Braun Racing for the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, as he will drive the No 32 Toyota for the second year running at the Montreal-based circuit. Last year, while driving the same car for Braun Racing, Villeneuve qualified 5th and finished 16th in a race that saw him run inside the Top 5 for the majority of time.

However, in the late stages of the 2008 Nationwide event, the local favorite was involved in an accident that caused him to drop more than 10 places until the finish line.

Unlike in the previous years, this season's Nationwide event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve will likely benefit from the presence of plenty of Sprint Cup drivers, as the Montreal race is the only event NASCAR has scheduled for the August 28th – 30th weekend.

I am very happy to return to the track this year in Montreal with Braun Racing. I enjoyed greatly my experience last year and their trust is greatly appreciated. It is also a team that prepares great cars. I am confident the No. 32 will be at least as good as the car the team prepared for me last, which is exciting,” said Villeneuve, as reported in a press release from NASCAR.

He added that his appointment for the No 32 Toyota seat one month and a half before the Montreal event will give him plenty of time to better prepare for the race.

What makes me even more happy is the fact that this time around, I'm part of the equation from a much earlier stage. Together, we will be able to better prepare for the end of August race and it should have a good influence on our results.

We are very happy to have Villeneuve back behind the wheel of the No. 32 in Montreal. He is a highly talented driver and had a very strong run in our car last year. He has unparalleled experience to add to our team and its road-course program,” added Braun Racing owner Todd Braun.
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