Saturday, August 4 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Montreal, PQ

Kevin Harvick celebrates his win at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. More pix at the end of this page...

Harvick Takes Controversial NASCAR Busch Win in Montreal
By Reid Spencer, Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

MONTREAL, PQ (August 4, 2007) -- One race. One controversy.

NASCAR's first foray into Canada produced a melee in Turn 1 on a restart with four laps to go and a scoring decision that turned the NAPA Auto Parts 200 NASCAR Busch Series race inside out.

For the record, Kevin Harvick took the checkered flag Saturday in front of a packed house at the vaunted Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, holding off local Quebec favorite Patrick Carpentier by .338 seconds in a green-white-checkered finish to win the first NASCAR event on Canadian soil.

Harvick started the race from the rear of the field because he missed qualifying the No. 21 car while tending to his Nextel Cup duties at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania.

Harvick took the checkered flag because NASCAR refused to display it to Robby Gordon in an ending reminiscent of Davey Allison's controversial victory over Ricky Rudd at Infineon Raceway in 1991.

As Rudd had 16 years ago, Gordon crossed the finish line first, but was not declared the race winner because he failed to drop back in the running order for the final restart, according to NASCAR's instructions.

Click on the efile logo to listen to NASCAR's explanation of the ruling's regarding Robby Gordon's place on the restart, subsequent black flag and eventual order to park his car (mp3 file).

In full view of NASCAR's top brass -- including chairman and CEO Brian France and president Mike Helton -- Gordon matched Harvick with a burnout of his own on the frontstretch.

"You always go back to your position, if you get spun out," an embittered Gordon said after the race. "Marcos (Ambrose) spun me under the (final) caution. They told me originally, 'Go back to second place.' Halfway around the last lap, they told me to go back to 13th place, 14th place, something like that.

"I was never running 13th or 14th, so I don't know what to say. I completed the most laps; I was the first car to complete 'em -- I won the race. You guys can say I got into the back of (Ambrose) over here. He got into the back of me over there. It's just a huge disappointment."

NASCAR doubtless won't take Gordon's actions lightly. Among the penalties facing the driver of the No. 55 Ford is a probable suspension from Sunday's Pennsylvania 500 Nextel Cup race at Pocono.

Gordon had taken the lead from Ambrose after a restart on Lap 71, while a multicar pileup in Turn 1 brought out the final caution of the race. With the yellow flag waving in Turn 4, Ambrose spun Gordon, who was unable to hold his position in the running order.

Accordingly, NASCAR instructed Gordon to fall back behind Ron Fellows, who was running 12th at the time. Gordon refused and took the green flag on the Lap 74 restart behind Ambrose, who held the lead at the time.

Gordon got to the front by spinning Ambrose moments after the restart and pulled away from the Harvick-Carpentier battle to cross the finish line first -- to no avail. NASCAR scored him one lap down in 18th place at the finish.

Max Papis was credited with a third-place finish, followed by Fellows, Stephen Leicht, Kyle Krisiloff and Ambrose. Brad Coleman, David Reutimann and Jeff Burton completed the top 10.

"The last four or five laps were pretty wild," said Harvick, who won his fourth Busch race of the season in 16 starts and the 30th of his career. "There was a lot of pushing and shoving and everybody running into each other -- a lot like short-track racing."

Harvick thought Gordon should have complied with NASCAR's instructions to fall back in the running order.

"We've all been in that situation," he said. "At that point, you might as well just give up, because you're not going to win the fight. If you don't maintain the pace of the caution car, you go back to where you fell in."

Note: Points leader Carl Edwards took the No. 60 Ford to the garage on Lap 27 with a broken truck arm mount (suspension part) and lost 10 laps during the repairs. He finished 30th. . . Driver John Graham may have finished three laps in arrears in 23rd place, but his car had the best name in the NASCAR Busch Series this year, the No. 10 Kick Butt Amped Energy Ballz Toyota.

Post Race Comments: The Ambrose-Gordon Incident

Marcos Ambrose – #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion - finished 7th

“When I came over here (America) I made a promise to myself that I was going to be happy no matter what I was dealt,” said Ambrose.

“Today, I’m going to focus on being happy because the Kingsford car was the best car here today without doubt.

“Undoubtedly, today we had a bad end result and not through our own doing.

“But I am really proud of this team for giving me a car that was capable of winning and we showed a lot here today.

“When I came over here nobody knew who I was and today we were pulling away from the best road racers in America and were on our way to victory.

“I’ve got Watkins Glen to look forward to next weekend and we will have a point to prove.”

Marcos Ambrose (MA) – Post Race Press Conference:

DID YOU KNOW NASCAR TOLD ROBBY GORDON TO GO TO THE BACK? "Yeah, I knew that and I knew that he was going to try and hit me. We were talking whether we should pull over and let him pass, but you know, I’ve got two laps to go and I’m trying to win the race.

Marcus Ambrose led the most laps at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

“If somebody is going to take me out, they’re going to take me out. If they feel strong enough, they’re going to do it. I’m not going to go into it. I’m disappointed; I promised myself that I wouldn’t get mad.

“This is an opportunity for me over here. I’m thankful for what I’ve been given and today is a bad day, but tomorrow we’ll look to next week. I’m pleased that I’m here and holding my own against some of America’s best.”

WHAT WAS THE STRATEGY FOR TODAY? “Conserve tires, conserve fuel until the end and it’s a shame that we didn’t get to show it.”

HOW HARD IS IT TO NOT BE MAD? “I’ll be in therapy for about two years I think.”

Q: WHAT WAS THE EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU? “He was mad and showed it.”

Robby Gordon - No. 55 Camping World Ford Fusion – finished 18th

WHAT DID THEY SAY IN THERE (NASCAR HAULER)? “They said here’s the rule book.

WERE YOU AHEAD OF MARCOS (AMBROSE) WHEN THAT YELLOW FLAG WAS ON THE CORNER? DIDN’T THEY SAY THAT IF THE YELLOW FLAG WAS OUT… “You always go back to your position, if you get spun out. And Marcos spun me under the caution, or whatever his name is. They originally told me to go back to second place and I went back to second place. Then they said to go back to 13th place or 14th place or something like that. I was never running 13th or 14th, so I don’t know what to say.”

DID YOU WIN THIS RACE? “I completed the most laps, I was first car to complete them. I won the race. You guys can say that I got in the back of him over here, he got in the back of me over there. It’s just a huge disappointment. We worked real hard on our road course program and we came here to win the race and that’s what we did. If they’re going to say we finished two laps, I guess we finished two laps down; they make the rules.”

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU BUMPED HIM TO GET THE LEAD? “The first time I got side-by-side with him pretty clean and he got loose on the gas, but I got off on him and got inside of him going into turn three. It’s a huge disappointment.”

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE GREEN-WHITE-CHECKERED FINISH? “On the last lap, he completely missed the apex of the turn one and I got into him in turn two. I had my apex and I had more speed.”

Event Stats PDF files unless otherwise noted

Entry List

Thursday First Practice

Thursday Second Practice

Friday Practice

Friday Final Practice

Qualifying Order

Qualifying Results

Race Results

Point Standings

Dartmouth's Mike MacKenzie finished 33rd in his first NASCAR Busch Series race. "Mike" updates throughout the event follow... Thursday Morning Practice - 37th at 84.741 mph - click here for chart Thursday Afternoon Practice - 38th at 87.514 mph - click here for chart Friday story in The Chronicle Herald - click here for story at ChronicleHerald online Friday First Practice - 28th at 88.867 mph - click here for chart Friday Final Practice - 33rd at 87.088 mph - click here for chart Saturday Qualifying - starts 37th - click here for qualifying results Loses transmission in race - finishes 33rd - click here for complete results Read the post race story in Sunday's Chronicle Herald - click here for the Herald online Read the post race story in Sunday's Daily News - click here for the Daily News online

Schedule/Broadcast Times

Practice: Thursday, August 2 (9:00 a.m.– Noon/ET; 1:30–4:00 p.m./ET) NOT TELEVISED

Practice: Friday, August 3 (11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m./ET) NOT TELEVISED

Final Practice: Friday, August 3 (ESPN2 at 3 p.m./AT, 2 p.m./ET)

Qualifying: Saturday, August 4 (ESPN2 & TSN-HD at 1 p.m/AT, 12 p.m./ET

Pre-Race Show: Saturday, August 4 (ESPN2 & TSN-HD at 3:30 p.m./AT, 2:30 p.m./ET)

Race: Saturday, August 4 (ESPN2 at 4:30 p.m./AT, 3:30 p.m./ET)

Green Flag Fast Facts
The Race: NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge
The Place: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
The Date: Aug. 4, 20071
The Time: 3:30 p.m. (ET)
TV: ESPN2, 3:00 p.m. (ET)
Track Layout: 2.709-mile road course
Race Purse: $2,075,651
2006 Winner: Inaugural Event
2006 Pole: Inaugural Event
Schedule (local time/ET): Thurs., 9:00 a.m.– Noon; 1:30–4:00 p.m. – Practice. Fri., 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.– Practice; 2:05 –3:25 p.m. – Final Practice. Sat. 12:10 p.m. – Qualifying (Impound).
Year-To-Date Standings: click here

Green Flag Notes

• The NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge at the historic Circuit Gilles Villeneuve road course is the inaugural event for the NASCAR Busch Series in Canada and the second points race for the series on international soil. The series has competed in Mexico City since 2005 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
• The purse for the race is $2,075,651, the third in excess of $2 million in the series this year and the eighth-richest race purse in series history.
• INSIGHT FROM JOE BALASH, NASCAR BUSCH SERIES DIRECTOR...“Montreal will be a very technical course for the drivers’ style and for the race car itself. The track data that was distributed to the teams via Terry Labonte’s test gives them a track map, which includes breaking data, shock travel, engine RPM – all the elements necessary to have the car set up to start their baseline when they get to the test session on Thursday. Any time we go to a new venue, it’s important for the teams to get as much information as possible during the practice sessions to compile good notes for decision-making during the race. In the early part of practice, drivers will use that data to find marks for breaking and acceleration. Teams will also try to get as much track time on the practice day during the same time period that the race will actually take place. Choosing the correct location to start braking in the turns and getting back on the gas will be very critical for maintaining position on the track. Drivers will have to judge how much or their brakes to use during the early stages of the race so they will have enough braking capacity in the closing laps.”
• There are seven double-duty drivers scheduled to compete this weekend in Montreal and also at Pocono Raceway. Reigning series champion Kevin Harvick (No. 21 AutoZone Chevrolet) and current standings leader Carl Edwards (No. 60 Scotts Ford) will be joined by David Ragan (No. 6 Discount Tire Ford), Jeff Burton (No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet), 2002 series champion Greg Biffle No. 37 Yard Man Ford), Robby Gordon (No. 55 Camping World Ford) and David Reutimann (No. 99 NAPA Toyota).
• Drivers representing eight countries are entered in the event, led by a 27-man contingent from the United States. Eight Canadians, including Montreal’s own Patrick Carpentier (No. 22 Zelars & Komatsu Dodge) – who will make his NASCAR debut – and veteran NASCAR road ace Ron Fellows (No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet - Toronto) lead that group. NASCAR Busch Series regular Marcos Ambrose (No. 59 Kingsford Ford) is from Australia. Michel Jourdain Jr. (No. 17 Dish Network Ford) who won at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Champ Car competition in 2003, and Jorge Goeters (No. 27 Cottonelle Ford), winner of the first Busch Pole at Mexico City, are from Mexico. Additionally, Italy will be represented by Max Papis (No. 1 Miccosukee Resorts Chevrolet); Sweden by Nic Johnssen (No. 28 Yellow Transportation Chevrolet); England by Andy Pilgrim (No. 88 U.S. NAVY Chevrolet) and Venezuela by Alex Garcia (No. 98 Dixien-Omni Source Chevrolet).
• Subs on Standby: With the travel to and from Montreal to Pocono this weekend for the seven double-duty drivers entered in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge, substitute drivers are on standby to practice and perhaps qualify their cars. Auggie Vidovich is on call for David Ragan; Brandon Miller will sub for Kevin Harvick; Scott Wimmer will be on hand for Jeff Burton; Casey Atwood for Greg Biffle; John Andretti for Carl Edwards and Mark Green for David Reutimann. A substitute had yet to be announced for Robby Gordon.
• MRN Makes History in Montreal: Motor Racing Network (MRN) will use the most race broadcasters at one event in its history when airing the NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge on Saturday. Nine reporters will be on hand for turn coverage while a total of 14 reporters will be at-track to provide blanket coverage of the event. MRN, a division of International Speedway Corporation (ISC) based in Daytona Beach, Fla., will air 27 of the 35 NASCAR Busch Series races in 2007. Its broadcasts are heard by more than 1 million race fans who tune in to more than 700 affiliates nationwide and in Canada, plus a world-wide audience listening to the Armed Forces Network. MRN also provides live event coverage to Sirius Satellite Radio and is streamed live at NASCAR.com.
• NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Precedes NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge: The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will also compete at Circuit Gilles Villeneueve on Saturday. The 23-lap event is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. D.J. Kennington (No. 72 Northern Provincial Pipelines Chevrolet) and J.R. Fitzpatrick Jr. (No. 0 Home Hardware Chevrolet) are scheduled to compete in that event, then move on to their NASCAR Busch Series rides later in the afternoon. The series, like its counterpart the NASCAR Mexico Corona Series in Mexico, offers new opportunities for Canada’s top teams and drivers to showcase their talents in the NASCAR system. The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series features cars similar to those used in the former CASCAR Super Series and operates throughout Canada with a schedule that runs from May through October.

Photo Gallery - Saturday, August 4 - race day


Scott Pruett...


Robby Gordon (55)...


Quebec native Patrick Carpentier...


Points leader Carl Edwards...


Harvick went on for the win...

Photo Gallery - Thursday & Friday, August 2, 3 - practice


John Andretti subbed for Carl Edwards during FRiday practice; Edwards was in Pocono qualifying his NEXTEL Cup car...


Jeff Burton...


Patrick Carpentier...


Scott Pruett...


Stephen Wallace... Photo Gallery - Wednesday, August 1


Carl Edwards and Patrick Carpentier are interviewed on a Montreal morning show...


Canadian-born Pierre Keuttel (left, Edwards crew chief) and Carl Edwards talk with the media in Montreal...


Left to right: Patrick Carpentier, Pierre Keuttel and Carl Edwards pose for a photo in Montreal Canadians jerseys...

IMPORTANT: All information, schedules and/or scheduled events is/are subject to change without notice. Please check with the source to confirm.