NASCAR Cup Series

Road-course aces prepare for Nationwide

Published Jun. 16, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

A pair of road-course specialists are getting ready for their summer runs in Penske Racing entries.

Former world-champion driver Jacques Villeneuve will drive Penske Racing’s No. 22 in the road-course races at both Road America and in Montreal. He will fill in for 2010 series champion Brad Keselowski as he competes in non-companion Sprint Cup events.

Villeneuve has tested for the team already. He has eight NASCAR starts over the past four seasons, including five in the Nationwide Series. His top NASCAR result came last season when he finished third at Montreal. He has already been to Victory Lane at Road America, where he won CART Series races in 1994 and 1995. He will then race in his hometown of Montreal, Quebec, Canada at the circuit named after his famous father, former Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve.

Indianapolis 500 polesitter Alex Tagliani will drive the No. 12 NASCAR Nationwide Series entry in the race at Montreal, according to a track release. The Penske Racing entry will be sponsored by Hot Wheels.