The 42-year-old native of Montreal, Quebec, CAN isn't a stranger to NASCAR competition making three previous Sprint Cup Series, nine Nationwide and seven Camping World Truck Series starts. His best results were in the Nationwide Series where he earned four top-fives and six top-10 finishes; all on road courses. Villeneuve has also competed in F1, CART, and USAC races. He was most successful in F1 winning 11 times and CART where he won five times and was the series champion in 1995.-jayski.com
Villeneuve to drive No. 51 at Sonoma Raceway
Jacques Villeneuve | 51
(June 18, 2013 9:43 PM EDT)
Jacques Villeneuve takes over the #51 TAG Heuer Eyewear Chevy for Phoenix Racing at Sonoma Raceway.
Ryan Newman's Sonoma Raceway statistics
Ryan Newman | 39
(June 18, 2013 9:39 PM EDT)
In 11 starts at Sonoma Raceway, Ryan Newman has two top-five finishes and five top-10s.
He has completed all 1,217 laps contested there since his rookie campaign in 2002, and he even scored a runner-up finish in 2006. With 11 races to go until the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup begins, Newman sits 18th in points, 28 points out of the Chase. As a team fighting for a spot in this season’s Chase, Newman & Company hopes to not only improve on its recent finishes at the Sonoma road course, but also contend for the win.-True Speed Communication
Larson to make first NASCAR road course start
Kyle Larson | 732
(June 18, 2013 9:36 PM EDT)
Rookie Kyle Larson will be making his first start at the 4.048-mile, 14-turn Road America road course in Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Larson has never made a start on a road course in any of the major series he has competed in. However, the entire Turner Scott Motorsports team participated in a test at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) several weeks ago, allowing time for the 20-year-old to get comfortable turning both left and right.-Turner Scott Motorsports
Justin Allgaier's Elkhart Lake history
Justin Allgaier | 731
(June 18, 2013 9:30 PM EDT)
This will be Justin Allgaier's fourth start at the 4.048-mile Road America road course.
In 2011, Allgaier was leading the race when his car when out of fuel while under caution on the last lap. In preparation for this year's road course race, Allgaier along with his TSM teammates participated in an open test last month at Virginia International Raceway (VIR). This weekend the No. 31 BRANDT Chevrolet team will utilize chassis TSM-305. TSM-305 has been updated for 2013 and is the same car Allgaier tested at VIR last month.-Turner Scott Motorsports
Piquet Jr. defending Elkhart Lake winner
Nelson Piquet Jr. | 730
(June 18, 2013 9:27 PM EDT)
Nelson Piquet Jr. is no stranger to success at the 4.048-mile, 14-turn Road America road course.
He captured the pole and led a total of 19 laps en route to his first NNS victory in his only start at the famed Wisconsin road course. The No. 30 Qualcomm team will have chassis TSM-300 for Saturday afternoon's race at Road America. TSM-300 is the same chassis Piquet Jr. won with in last year's race at the Elkhart Lake, WI track.-Turner Scott Motorsports
Trevor Bayne Road America NNS race advance
Trevor Bayne | 706
(June 18, 2013 9:21 PM EDT)
Trevor Bayne had mixed results in his previous two outings at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI.
In 2010, Bayne started 20th and drove his way up through the pack to a top-10, finishing 10th. The next year, driving for Roush Fenway Racing, his car overheated leaving Bayne in 31st place. Bayne found success on several road courses, including winning the pole at Gateway Motorsports Park in 2010, then finishing third in the same race. In 2011, he scored another top-10 by finishing ninth at Watkins Glen.-Roush Fenway Racing
Montoya a previous winner at Sonoma Raceway
Juan Pablo Montoya | 42
(June 18, 2013 9:18 PM EDT)
This weekend will be Juan Pablo Montoya’s seventh start at Sonoma Raceway.
In his six races at Sonoma, he has one win, one top-five and four top-10s. His average start at the road-course is 18.8 with an average finish of 13.2. He has led a total of nine laps at Sonoma seven of them coming from the year he won in 2007. In his first year with EGR, he scored his first NSCS victory on the road-course.-Earnhardt Ganassi Racing
Jamie McMurray at Sonoma Raceway
Jamie McMurray | 1
(June 18, 2013 9:16 PM EDT)
This weekend’s race will be Jamie McMurray’s 11th start at Sonoma Raceway.
He has completed 1106 out of a possible 1107 laps and has zero DNF’s (did not finish) at the track. He has one top-five and one top-10 finish. The driver of the No. 1 Cessna Chevrolet SS qualified on the pole in 2007, and led 30 laps. His best finish at the track is second in 2004. McMurray’s driver rating of 84.4 ranks him the 12th-best among active drivers. In his 10 previous starts McMurray ranks 10th in green flag passes with 441, and has an average finish of 17.1 at Sonoma Raceway.-Earnhardt Ganassi Racing
Allmendinger in Penske's #22 at Road America
AJ Allmendinger | 722
(June 18, 2013 9:13 PM EDT)
AJ Allmendinger is returning to the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) this weekend after a five-year hiatus.
Having two previous starts under his belt at Road America, Allmendinger made a trip to Victory Lane in 2006 in the CART Series. He also made a visit to the facility in the same series in 2004 where he finished 13th. His victory in 2006 marked his last win in an open-wheel series. Over the last seven years, Allmendinger has competed in nine road course events on the NASCAR circuit. Out of those nine starts, he has completed over 900 miles as well as recorded eight top-15 finishes.-Penske Racing
Sam Hornish Jr. on the road course
Sam Hornish Jr. | 712
(June 18, 2013 9:08 PM EDT)
Heading into this weekend at Elkhart Lake, Sam Hornish Jr. is well positioned to capture his first-ever road course victory in NASCAR competition.
He has progressively improved on these circuits over the last two seasons. He captured three top-five finishes on road courses last year with a second-place at Montreal (NNS), a third-place at Watkins Glen (NNS) and a fifth-place at Sonoma (NSCS).-Penske Racing