MONTREAL — Move over, Grand Prix, NASCAR is back in town.
Speeding its way into Montreal this weekend is the third installment of NASCAR's Napa Auto Parts 200, held Friday through Sunday at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Parc Jean Drapeau.
National Press Officer Normand Prieur and promoter Francois Dumontier, both of Stock Car Montreal, agree that NASCAR is here to stay.
"I think NASCAR has satisfied the local fans well," Prieur said. "It's already our fourth year and we're guaranteed for a 2011 return."
Montreal holds a unique distinction when it comes to NASCAR.
"We're one of the three major NASCAR series — Cup, Nationwide and Truck — that's raced outside the U.S."
The Montreal setting was a perfect addition to the NASCAR racing circuit.
"Montreal has earned a great reputation as a professional motorsports city. It's a tradition that dates to 1978," Prieur said. "NASCAR was interested in coming here and experiencing our road course. And the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit is quite a legendary track."
Prieur adds that one more distinction really makes Montreal unique.
"We're one of the only tracks in the world that you can reach by subway," he said. "The Montreal location is just beautiful. And we're right next door."
TICKET OPTIONS
A NASCAR race on a road course makes a lot of sense, says Prieur.
"It's very exciting. The fans really push hard for their favorites."
The road course, compared to an oval, has its own unique challenges as well.
"The speed is not as high but the drivers are still aggressive," Prieur said.
The racing event opens Friday with Discovery Day, which offers practice and qualifying sessions from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Saturday, practice sessions last from 6:45 a.m. to late morning. Then it's on to the qualifying session, reconnaissance laps and the driver's introduction, which takes place at 1:45 p.m. The big race Saturday is the 200-mile, 74-lap Grand-Am Rolex Series, which starts at 2:15 p.m.
Sunday offers a full day of racing. The Formula Tour 1600 is a 20-lap race at 10 a.m. The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series offers a driver's introduction at 11:15 a.m. followed by a 23-lap, 60-mile race at 11:45 a.m.
Next is the big event of the weekend, the NASCAR Nationwide Series race. The driver's introduction and parade starts at 2 p.m. The 74-lap, 200-mile race starts at 2:30 p.m.
A variety of ticket options are available. General admission for Saturday costs $30, Sunday is $40, and the weekend costs $55. Two-day grandstand passes are priced at $95, $120, $145 and $165. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is most easily accessed at Metro Jean Drapeau. For more information, call (514) 397-0007 or visit www.napa200.ca.
MEET DRIVERS
While the race takes place this weekend, the party begins tonight. And the place to be is Crescent Street downtown.
Closed to traffic for a one-block stretch between Ste. Catherine Street and Maisonneuve Boulevard is the Crescent Street NASCAR block party. The Ford Racing Festival on Crescent offers pedestrians and party-goers live music, DJ music, exhibition booths, race cars on display and plenty of racing-themed activities.
The Pit Stop Challenge lets you try your hand at being a real-life racing assistant. The booth is open to the public today through Saturday. A lighthearted contest version pits local media members at 4:30 p.m. today and Crescent Street merchants at 3 p.m. Friday.
You can also meet your favorite drivers. An autograph session with AIM Autosport's Grand Am team is held today at 1 p.m. A question and answer/autograph session featuring the Grand-AM Rolex Series Ford Racing drivers is also held today, at 5:45 p.m. On Friday, the Nationwide Series Ford Racing drivers sign autographs at 5 p.m.
DJ and live music are held all three nights from 5 p.m. until closing. The block party is held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday.
A drink and a burger are never far away, either. And in typical Montreal style, the restaurant terraces along Crescent Street go on for days.
The places to party include: Thursdays, for pub fun and food, at 1449 Crescent St., (514) 288-5656 or www.thursdaysbar.com; Wienstein & Gavinos with a rustic feel on two floors and plenty of pasta and pizza to go around for everyone (the restaurant can accommodate large groups) at 1434 Crescent St., (514) 288-2231 or www.wiensteinandgavinos.com; Les 3 Brasseurs is a popular Quebec microbrewery for pub food and home-brewed draft beer at 1356 Ste. Catherine St. W. on the corner of Crescent Street, (514) 788-9788 or www.les3brasseurs.ca; and upscale Newtown combines restaurant, nightclub, lounge, rooftop terrace and true car-racing ties — it's owned by Formula 1 driver Jacques Villenneuve (the Parc Jean Drapeau track is named after his late dad Gilles). Find it at 1476 Crescent St., call (514) 284-6555 or visit www.lenewtown.com.
For more information, visit www.crescentmontreal.com.
Steve Howell is the author of Montreal Essential Guide, a Sutro Media iPhone travel app available at iTunes.com.
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