Villeneuve enters Phoenix Cup race

The Canadian will have to make the field on time during Friday qualifying as his car is not in the top-35 in the owner points. Last month he qualified sixth for his Cup debut at Talladega Superspeedway, where he also needed to be quick enough in qualifying to be in the race.

This time. however, the challenge will be tougher for the former Formula One world champion, as the one-mile, low-banked oval will be more difficult to tackle for him on his first qualifying lap than Talladega, where a flying lap is done full-throttle all the way around.

Since racing at Talladega, Villeneuve has completed further tests with the Car of Tomorrow at Gateway and Atlanta, but the former Champ Car and Indy 500 champion still believes the most difficult part of driving the car is getting the most out of it in the two-lap qualifying.

"I think the hardest thing I find driving these cars is getting the one lap and qualifying trim on new tires, that's the most difficult thing to do," said Villeneuve.

"To get your best lap out, you really have to go out hard and try to figure out a lot of things at the same time. So it's tough. But it's fun."

Villeneuve is no stranger to Phoenix, having raced there during his Champ Car days, actually qualifying on the front row in 1994. During that race he was involved in a serious incident when he crashed into the side of the wrecked car of Hiro Matsushita on turn four.

He also qualified third and finished fifth in his championship season a year later.

Fellow Canadian Patrick Carpentier will also attempt to make the race during Friday qualifying in the No. 10 Gillett Evernham Dodge.