Jacques Villeneuve has categorically stated that he has no interest in buying into NASCAR team Bill Davis Racing. The 1997 Formula One world champion has been linked to a purchase of the team he is racing for since his manager Craig Pollock expressed an interest in buying a NASCAR team, but Villeneuve claims that he will not be involved in any takeover bid.
On Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway Tuesday, Bill Davis once again denied reports that Jacques Villeneuve or his agent, Craig Pollack, have purchased the team, saying that he and his wife maintain 100% ownership.
Jacques Villeneuve has apparently completed a buy-in of Bill Davis’ High Point-based Toyota operation, according to sources close to the team, and Villeneuve will have at least a majority interest in the operation, perhaps even full ownership. Last Sunday, when asked about the report of a planned Villeneuve buy-in, Davis said he wasn’t in a position to give a specific answer but did say he was considering a number of options. It is unclear what a purchase price might be. It is also unclear why Villeneuve, who lives in Montreal, would want to buy a NASCAR team, or if Villeneuve might move the team from High Point, where Davis has operated for more than 15 years.
1997 Formula 1 World Driving Champion and 1995 Indianapolis 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve will replace No. 36-Jeremy Mayfield next year in a Bill Davis Racing Nextel Cup Toyota. Team General Manager Mike Brown said over the next six weeks, Villeneuve will undergo an intensive testing program that will include seat time in a Craftsman Truck Series entry and possibly an ARCA car at Talladega Superspeedway in October.
Jeremy Mayfield will not return to Bill Davis Racing next season, the team said Wednesday. Mayfield joined BDR this year as the team expanded to two cars, but he’s struggled to make races and has only qualified for eight of the 21 events this season. Mayfield’s No. 36 Camry team was new for 2007 and did not have a guaranteed starting spot in the first five races of the season because it was outside the top 35 in owner points. After missing the first four races of the year, Mayfield never could get in the top 35. No replacement driver was named.
Tommy Baldwin gave up one crew chief job a week ago at Bill Davis Racing, and he already has another. Baldwin, the team’s competition director, had guided Jeremy Mayfield’s crew until this past weekend when David Hyder took over. Now he will crew chief the Number 22 Caterpillar Toyota of Dave Blaney as Kevin Hamlin and the team have parted ways.
NASCAR has lifted David Hyder’s indefinite suspension and he’ll return to work next week as crew chief for Jeremy Mayfield. Team owner Bill Davis said he had no apprehension about hiring Hyder, who was thrown out of the garage when an illegal additive was found in Michael Waltrip’s car during Daytona 500 preparations. Hyder, also fined $100,000, parted ways with Waltrip in late April. Davis said he’d been trying to bring Hyder into his organization for several years, but never had the right opening for him. Now he’s hoping Hyder can pump some energy into Mayfield’s struggling team. Mayfield heads into Sunday night’s race 47th in the standings, and Davis is desperately trying to turn that team around.