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The fourth edition of the NASCAR race in Montreal will be crowned with three experts on road circuits, but also three very different drivers.

Max Papis, who had to settle for second place by a few centimeters, was happy to join Boris Said and Jacques Villeneuve on the podium and he summed up this winning combination perfectly.

“Can you believe it: me, an Italian, Jacques, a Canadian and an … Boris Said, NASCAR make a podium?” He said with humor.

At first glance, this may seem like the revenge of the road racing specialists who finally reaping dividends for their efforts before the experts of the ovals, but Papis wanted to go for accuracy.

“All I can say is that NASCAR drivers are good, full stop!”

Because of the many twists and turns, only 19 out of 43 drivers were able to complete the race that lasted over three hours which put a strain on the fitness of athletes.

“I am almost 48 years, I’m tired,” admitted Said while Villeneuve has said that it is rather for the towers on the yellow flag and stops that fatigue comes into play.

All three drivers had fun discussing this so hotly contested it will make history.

“Who won? , Was quick to say Said. “I do not even know when we crossed the finish line. It was a really good battle with Max that I like. He fought until the end and it’s not for nothing that they call Mad Max. ”

“I wanted to win so I pushed my body into my seat belt (as do the children) during the final stretch,” said Papis, laughing.

“It’s always exciting to Montreal because it’s played in the final laps with reminders during which we take risks,” Villeneuve told the driver with the instinct.

Villeneuve could find a different fate, but his team decided to make a move to pit with a few laps to go.

“It was a good decision to stop thinking about out of gas in addition to darken with new tires,” he said.

The last word goes to one who has brought a smile to fans of Quebec drivers. With a world championship in Formula One, a triumph at the Indianapolis 500 and several other experiments including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where a class podium in Montreal in NASCAR who still clings to find a permanent steering this series or in F1?

“It’s fun as a result, but this is not a win and what are the victories that are special to me,” says Villeneuve by demonstrating that his thirst for driver is not satisfied.

Jacques Villeneuve would like to make one last dip in Formula 1 before live a peaceful end career in NASCAR. He would like to rewrite the script of the last act of his F1 career.

“There are things to clean in F1. I did not like how it ended,” Villeneuve said Thursday during a press briefing held at the approach stage of Montreal the NASCAR Nationwide Series, taking place this weekend at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. There are small things I want to prove. I also want my son to see me race in Formula 1. ”

Among the bad memories to erase, there are obviously those related to the end of his stay with BMW Sauber. His departure was made in bitterness, he was replaced by Robert Kubica season.

Jacques Villeneuve

Michael Schumacher could also make a return next season, but Villeneuve believes that there would be nothing to settle at this level.

Schumacher, I beat him in 1997, so it’s settled since 1997, has launched Villeneuve, referring to his conquest of the world championship in F1 this year.

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The Quebecers 38 years knows full well that unlike NASCAR, F1 did not offer much longer the possibility of obtaining a driving full time.

“For right now, hopefully more on the side of F1 as NASCAR, because it is not quite the same age limits in NASCAR than Formula 1. So, if a little chance in F1, he must try to go as there will be this small opening. There’s one now, so I’ll try.

“In the long term, sure (NASCAR) is something very exciting. I would like to join, yes,” said Villeneuve, who believes it will be possible to do well in this series even after that he reaches forty. Just look at Mark Martin, how competitive it is … and he is in his fifties. ”

Five Quebecers

Villeneuve will be part of a contingent of five Quebec, this weekend, at the stage of Montreal’s NASCAR Nationwide Series. The others will be Patrick Carpentier, who finished second in each of the first two presentations of the race, Alex Tagliani and Jean-Francois Dumoulin, who will be making their debut in Nationwide, and Andrew Ranger, the headliner of the Canadian series Tire, which will be found among major for the second consecutive year.

Tagliani and Ranger will also participate in the race of the Canadian Tire Series will be contested Sunday morning, hours before the Nationwide race. Qualifications will be held Saturday.

Carroll stole the show these past two years, but Villeneuve intends to do to turn this year. Hired by Braun Racing least one month before the 2008 race, he has had more time to prepare this time.

“Last year I even led a lap, just before the red flag (which ended the race because of rain), Villeneuve noted. I hope to be more than one round this year – or if only one tower, whether the latter.

“It was therefore held fairly well last year. This time we did some tests with exactly the same car as last year, and the same team. We are better prepared than last year. We will be a little more competitive, and it is hoped that others would not have made as much progress. The goal is to drive forward, to try to win the race. ”

Besides Villeneuve, Carpentier, Tagliani and Ranger Dumoulin, Quebecers Patrice Brisebois and Patrick Laperle (Canadian Tire Series) and Didier Schraenen (Form 1600) will participate in an autograph session between 14h and 15h, Friday at Circuit Gilles – Villeneuve.

The practice and qualifying rounds of the Formula 1600 Grand-Am will be held all day Friday. The racing fans will then enter the free tour at the “Discovery Day”.

The difficulty of finding a wheel

There will be many Quebecers track this weekend, but none currently a full time drive in NASCAR. Only Carroll made a serious foray into Sprint Cup with Gillett-Evernham team, before being released last year.

Obstacles remain for many Canadians, says Villeneuve. But Ron Fellows, the veteran Canadian pilot who won the race in Montreal last year, believes the deal will change in “three or four years.”

“Generally, Canadians are viewed as specialists road circuits, Villeneuve noted. And the perception is that those who excel on the road circuits can not do on the ovals. This is not necessarily true. The results of Juan Pablo Montoya is currently helping in this direction. ”

“With the marketing efforts that NASCAR has made in Canada and long-term involvement with a company with strong symbolic value as Canadian Tire, we’ll see drivers here puncture,” said Fellows. Andrew Ranger may be the next young hope who will benefit from what we are trying to establish in Canada. I think the future is bright. We would talk about this in five years. “