Jacques Villeneuve isn't fazed at all that the Weather Network is calling for rain both for qualifying on Saturday and for the NASCAR Nationwide series race on Sunday at the 2.7-mile track named after his late father Gilles Villeneuve.

Villeneuve was in sixth place in Montreal last year when, running without wipers on his wet, muddy windscreen and unable to see, he rammed into the back of Ron Hornaday Jr. The race was declared over on the next lap, but Villeneuve was dropped to 16th place for his infraction.

Had the race been called one lap earlier, he would have had very respectable a top-10 finish.

"I thought last year racing in the wet was a blast,'' Villeneuve said Thursday. "It was surprising how few accidents there were when we consider there weren't that many road course experts, and actually hardly anyone who had driven in the wet before.

"It was a great experience. Nobody could see a thing. Some of us didn't have wipers. Leading a lap last year was very special and hopefully it will turn out to be more than a lap this year and if it is one lap, it's the last one.''

The 38-year-old Villeneuve is without a steady drive this year, but for a second year in a row he will use his extensive road racing experience to drive a Dollar General Toyota for Braun Racing in Montreal.

Crucial stop

The Nationwide series is one level below NASCAR's Sprint Cup, but the stock car series considers it an important stop because it is the only NASCAR event held outside the United States. It is also one of two road races on the Nationwide schedule, along with last month's event in Watkins Glen, N.Y. The rest are all held on oval tracks

It is the third year the NAPA Auto Parts 200 will be run, but fan interest appears to be up with the disappearance, for this year at least, of the hugely popular Canadian Grand Prix Formula One race.

Last year it made history as the first NASCAR race ever run in the rain. Other events, particularly those on high-speed ovals, only run on dry tracks.

Most teams were ill-equipped for wet weather, with one driver having to lean out of his window to wipe his windscreen with a rag while driving. All will be better prepared this year.

Undivided attention

The event has been given a stand-alone weekend _ one without a Sprint Cup race in another city _ to give it the full attention of the stock car crowd and attract a better field of drivers, many of whom race in both series.

The top 10 in the Nationwide standings after 24 races, including leader Kyle Busch, second-place Carl Edwards and third place Brad Keselowski _ will be on track.

Other teams get drivers with road experience to take over their cars for a weekend, which is how former open wheel stars like Villeneuve, Patrick Carpentier of Joliette, Que. and Alex Tagliani of Lachenaie, Que., got onto the grid. Carpentier has finished second in Montreal the last two years.

Wet racing

Experience will come in handy on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, especially if it's wet.

The course features long straightaways followed by tight corners and chicanes, which puts the accent on braking and accelerating. Both are tougher on a wet track but Villeneuve says he can handle it.

"It was amazing how much water there was on the track and that we could actually drive through it,'' he said. "You could aquaplane and still keep control of the car, which I can't remember ever happening in any other type of car.

"So that was exciting and fun. Personally, I'd love it if it rained again.''