Doing it F1 style

How's that old saying go? You can take the man out of Formula 1, but you can't take the Formula 1 out of the man?

First, Juan Pablo Montoya comes along and makes the move from F1 to NASCAR. Now, it Jacques Villeneuve is making the jump, racing Craftsman Trucks for Bill Davis Racing this fall before likely hopping into the Cup ride being vacated by Jeremy Mayfield in 2008.

But it's not enough for an F1 driver to make the switch and throw a little praise in NASCAR's direction. Nope. Villeneuve's got to toss a few barbs at Montoya in the process.

Montoya's transition into the NASCAR garage hasn't been all that smooth on or off the track, and Villeneuve is among the first to say it's to be expected.

"Apparently, no matter what you're driving, nobody likes the new boy," Villeneuve said. "Anytime anybody (new) got into F1, we didn't like it and we made their life hard."

But Villeneuve didn't stop there with that general assessment.

"But [Montoya] was like that in Formula 1, extremely aggressive and got on people's nerves," Villeneuve said. "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."

Unfortunately for New England racing fans, Villeneuve's Craftsman Truck debut is slated for Sept. 22 at Las Vegas — one week after the 200-lap Truck event at New Hampshire International Speedway.