#JacquesVilleneuve

With the Formula One Grand Prix in Montreal scheduled for the weekend, student protests that have been going on in the area for months threaten to disrupt the event — something  Quebec-born racing champion Jacques Villeneuve isn’t taking lightly.

In 1982, Formula 1 witnessed the talents of the Canadian race car driver. Regarded as the fastest ever to compete in Formula 1 by fans and fellow drivers, Villeneuve’s short career with Scuderia Ferrari was highlighted by six grand prix victories as well as a remarkably ferocious wheel-to-wheel battle for second versus Renee Arnoux during the closing stages of the 1979 French Grand Prix, all of which earned him a legendary status while driving a series of dangerous and ill-handling Ferraris.

Villeneuve in his Williams-Renault was on pole, but Schumacher’s Ferrari got the better start and took the lead by the first corner. However, as the race progressed, Villeneuve started clawing back at Schumacher, and then on lap 48, took the inside line at the Dry Sack corner to take the lead. In an attempt to take out his opponent, Schumacher turned in and hit Villeneuve’s car. However, the hit proved more lethal to Schumacher, as he had to retire from suspension damage. Villeneuve’s car was damaged, he nursed the car for the next 22  laps and finished the race in third position, enough to give him the F1 Driver’s Championship.

Now professional race car driver’s are gearing up for a serious reality event. It was announced earlier this year, that the last race on the IZOD IndyCar Series will present a new twist. Any racing driver who is not currently racing full-time in the IndyCar series, can win $5-million if they finish the race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, in first place.

Former Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve will return to the sport next year as a team owner. Villeneuve announced his plans recently, confirming rumors that funding for the project would come from Italian based Durango – which is owned by the son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Jacques Villeneuve, the Canadian Formula 1 world champion and Indianapolis 500 winner, is headed back to NASCAR for the famous Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis.