Villeneuve: I wanted this since '04

The former Formula One world champion said negotiations with BDR unfolded quickly and explained his decision to join them and not one of the top squads. He praised the team's Craftsman Truck Series programme and said he expects their Nextel Cup operation to continue to move up the field.

"Well, it happened really fast, this contact with Bill Davis Racing." Villeneuve said. "From then on, everybody seemed to be excited and open minded and wanted to give it a go. So it happened really fast. Just had to fly in, make a seat and come testing.

"Why Bill Davis Racing? Well, you have to look at the truck racing. They're leading the championship and doing really well. So that is the best place to start to get mileage, and to get used to running at those speeds in traffic.

"If you look at their Nextel Cup cars, they're going better every race, they move up, and it's better than a team that's going to move down."

Villeneuve had been said to be considering a switch to NASCAR for some time already, something he confirmed - stating that he only looked at it seriously once he left BMW Sauber and Formula One last year.

"A few years ago was the first time. I think it was 2004, when I took a year off from Formula One. But at the time I knew I wanted to go back to F1. So I didn't look at it that seriously. I just waited until I got out of F1 last year," said Villeneuve.

"I needed to do something in racing that was at an extremely high level, which NASCAR is, but something different. And I was missing the ovals also, so it sounded like a great challenge. I really wanted to get into it."

Villeneuve said he has followed Juan Pablo Montoya's progress in NASCAR and stated that even if he doesn't consider himself as aggressive a racer as the Ganassi driver, he still expects to be given a tough time as the new guy in town.

"Apparently no matter what you're driving nobody likes the new boy," he said. "Any time anybody got into F1, we didn't like it, and we made their life hard. So that's a little bit natural.

"But [Montoya] was like that in Formula One, extremely aggressive and got on people's nerves. I guess he kept the same personality going into NASCAR, which once he settles in, it will be all right.

"He's driving hard, he's fast, and he's making a name for himself. Now he's earning respect, so that's fine.

"But I've never been as aggressive as him, I would say. But at the same time, NASCAR is a different ball game. So if and when I get in there, I'll figure it out."

Villeneuve believes NASCAR is increasing its popularity worldwide, and this is calling the attention of drivers from different series to try to make the switch to what he considers to be the top-level in the United States.

"After Formula One, when you want to carry on racing, you want it to be at a top level. And in North America, the top level is NASCAR," Villeneuve added.

"NASCAR is becoming stronger and stronger every year. So it's getting everybody's attention even internationally. So I think that's what it comes down to.

"But a lot of people in Europe don't actually know what oval racing is all about, so they will find out."