To say that F1 World Champion and Indy 500 winner, Jacques Villeneuve had an eventful Brickyard 400 would be an understatement.
Because he was driving for Braun Racing, a Nationwide Series regular entrant with no Sprint Cup owner points and no track time at the 2.5 mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway; the Canadian had the extra pressure of having to qualify for the race - which he did - but in the 43rd spot.
He was involved up in an eight-car crash in turn two without suffering any serious damage at first. Then, while slowing for the ensuing yellow caution flag, was hit from behind.
With some good pit work after NASCAR officials cleared the track for green flag racing he restarted in 28th and moved up to 23rd by lap 15 when a debris caution flag was waved.
A team release noted that “on lap 97, (of the 160-lap race) it was discovered that one of the splitter braces was broken, which was disrupting the handling balance of the Dollar General Toyota. Villeneuve reported that he handling was now a little tight but loose on power. A caution on lap 117 gave the Dollar General team the opportunity they needed to repair the brace.”
"I had a lot of fun today,” said Jacques Villeneuve who finished 29th. “It was a little stressful because we came here without any practice, the team not knowing the car or the track and me not being in the Cup car for over two years. It was a big question mark, but that's how I like it, when it's tough. After practice yesterday (Saturday), I knew we still had a lot to do.”
The weekend, one of the hottest in Brickyard 400 history added to Villeneuve’s stress.
“Hot,” he said. “It was tough. The first time out with the car, we didn’t have the cooling working, the helmet or back cooling. That didn’t work in the car. And, my drink bottle wasn’t working until the caution around lap 100 when we could replace it. That was rough."
"Then the engine overheated and that killed me. Then it was a question of staying out there. Halfway through the race, the car was really difficult to drive with a broken splitter. I hit the wall a couple of times, so I backed it down because there was no point in trashing it. Then we came in the pit and fixed it and the car was very strong. I could run two-wide even against the quick guys and hold my own. Too bad we lost too much time when the splitter came up. The car was loose after that, but it was fun. I could drive it hard.”
I’m looking forward to driving for Braun Racing in Montreal next month,” he concluded.
Because he was driving for Braun Racing, a Nationwide Series regular entrant with no Sprint Cup owner points and no track time at the 2.5 mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway; the Canadian had the extra pressure of having to qualify for the race - which he did - but in the 43rd spot.
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| Photo Philippe Champoux Auto123.com |
He was involved up in an eight-car crash in turn two without suffering any serious damage at first. Then, while slowing for the ensuing yellow caution flag, was hit from behind.
With some good pit work after NASCAR officials cleared the track for green flag racing he restarted in 28th and moved up to 23rd by lap 15 when a debris caution flag was waved.
A team release noted that “on lap 97, (of the 160-lap race) it was discovered that one of the splitter braces was broken, which was disrupting the handling balance of the Dollar General Toyota. Villeneuve reported that he handling was now a little tight but loose on power. A caution on lap 117 gave the Dollar General team the opportunity they needed to repair the brace.”
"I had a lot of fun today,” said Jacques Villeneuve who finished 29th. “It was a little stressful because we came here without any practice, the team not knowing the car or the track and me not being in the Cup car for over two years. It was a big question mark, but that's how I like it, when it's tough. After practice yesterday (Saturday), I knew we still had a lot to do.”
The weekend, one of the hottest in Brickyard 400 history added to Villeneuve’s stress.
“Hot,” he said. “It was tough. The first time out with the car, we didn’t have the cooling working, the helmet or back cooling. That didn’t work in the car. And, my drink bottle wasn’t working until the caution around lap 100 when we could replace it. That was rough."
"Then the engine overheated and that killed me. Then it was a question of staying out there. Halfway through the race, the car was really difficult to drive with a broken splitter. I hit the wall a couple of times, so I backed it down because there was no point in trashing it. Then we came in the pit and fixed it and the car was very strong. I could run two-wide even against the quick guys and hold my own. Too bad we lost too much time when the splitter came up. The car was loose after that, but it was fun. I could drive it hard.”
I’m looking forward to driving for Braun Racing in Montreal next month,” he concluded.