F1 Veteran Jacques Chasing First Pole Finish in NASCAR
Jacques Villeneuve, 39, finds himself chasing his maiden victory since joining NASCAR in 2007. The Canadian rates his chances as the racing world sets its sights on Montreal.
Villeneuve has been able to build a steady partnership with the Braun team and after taking part in five races with the Dollar General car, he says they have a fair shot. The effective period of consolidation is something that many of his followers would consider a new element in his life. He has never been noted for being the un-happening type, a feat that has been consistent since the time of his birth. Born to Formula One legend, Gilles Villeneuve and Joann, and being named after the uncle who was himself a racing driver, one could easily suggest that racing has been in his DNA.
It took a daring mother to allow her flesh and blood to enter the same profession that inadvertently claimed the life of her husband, and Joann Villeneuve lived up to that reputation with flying colors. After kick-starting his career with the 100cc Kart, Jacques soon enrolled at the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School and was deemed one of the brightest and most mature for his age by the instructors.
1996 saw Jacques making his debut in Formula One with the Williams team where he won the championship a year later in dramatic fashion. Old F1 fans would remember the season for the collision with challenger Michael Schumacher in the final round at Jerez, the German retired and was disqualified from the championship while a podium finish was enough to guarantee Villeneuve the driver’s title. However, after that the Canadian’s career went into a sharp decline as he was never truly settled again. Villeneuve juggled as much as four teams in his remaining eight years at Formula one but unable to adjust to the advancements of Formula One, the new gadgets, improved traction control, etc, Villeneuve left F1 in 2006.
With such drastic fluctuations surrounding the Canadian’s Career, his present state of consolidation in NASCAR seems almost blissful and makes his supporters be a touch more patient with him. Montreal, where Villeneuve owns a $3 Million Mansion, is next to a hometown for the driver who feels extremely confident he can get a result on. "It's a very demanding track, and I'm a late braker. I'm a heavy braker and which is where I make most of my time at Elkhart Lake, and even at the Glen, actually.”He remarked.
Villeneuve has been reasonably competitive at the track in the past. The Braun car led the lap before crashing under a caution the season before last. However, his well wishers would want him to have better luck with upcoming races than his fate in the music industry. His first album ‘Private Paradise’ sold a mere 836 copies in its debut year according to Infoman, a satirical end of year review on Radio Canada. His first single, "Accepterais-tu" is a French song with lyrics that sit well with his present personal status —asking his loved one to marry him. Staying true to racing, neither his private life nor his failed marriage is no one’s business. However, with his post 2007 championship career in review, the ‘loved one’ in the song seems more like his career.
With such a rich family racing background, achieving so much at a very young age to the extent that he had to get his racing permit made from Andorra because he was under-age in Canada, the promising youngster that tested even racing great Michael Schumacher to the limit has failed to match up to that reputation. Could he be accused of living on past glory? Could he be categorized as someone that worked extra hard in the earlier stages of his career primarily to escape the shadow of his father; only to let the temporary hype and fame get to his head in the end… Is he the ‘Lindsay Lohan’ of Formula One?!
“If I knew I couldn't win races, I would have stayed in the States.” - Jacques Villeneuve.
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