Villeneuve back in F1 next year!

[ArcsVibe]

Hopefully he can shut his mouth and drive this time! Bonne chance Jacques!Villeneuve returns to F1 with SauberAssociated Press9/15/2004HINWIL, Switzerland (AP-CP) - Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve has signed a two-year contract to drive for the Sauber-Petronas team starting next year, the Formula One team said Wednesday.The announcement came only hours after the Renault team apparently cleared the way for the Canadian to replace Italy's Jarno Trulli for the remaining three races of the current season.Sauber said its contract with Villeneuve comes into effect Nov. 1, one week after the season ends with the Brazilian Grand Prix. The team said it was retaining Felipe Massa of Brazil as its second driver for 2005. Villeneuve replaces Italy's Giancarlo Fisichella, who is moving to Renault next season.``I am extremely excited to be back in Formula One with the Sauber-Petronas team,'' Villeneuve said in the team statement. ``I appreciate the confidence everybody is showing in me.``It is my goal to work with Peter (Sauber) and his team to bring them forward in the championship during the next two seasons. In my recent visit to Sauber I have been extremely impressed by the professionalism which is apparent throughout the factory. I am looking forward to seeing the results that will be developed by the state-of-the-art wind tunnel.''Sauber currently stands sixth in the constructors' championship.Its best results this season came in Belgium (Massa fourth and Fisichella fifth), Montreal (fourth, Fisichella) and Monaco (Massa fifth).Villeneuve, a native of Iberville, Que., quit BAR-Honda with one race left in 2003 after he learned that the team planned to replace him this year with Japanese driver Takuma Sato.The Canadian, who has been without a team since, won the world championship in 1997 with Williams.Sauber chief Peter Sauber said Villeneuve was ``absolutely keen and committed to return to Formula One.''``He was always a great fighter and I am convinced that together we can achieve a lot. I have to admit that signing a former world champion is something truly special for me.''He said it was an obligation to provide Villeneuve with a car that ``meets his expectations.''``Sauber-Petronas has made considerable progress this year, and I am confident that we are ready to tackle this challenge,'' he said.Earlier Wednesday, Renault released Trulli as one of its drivers, apparently clearing the way for Villeneuve to join the outfit until the end of the season. Renault said in a statement that the Italian driver ``has been released from his obligations to the team with immediate effect.''``The team and Jarno feel that an early separation will allow both parties to conclude the year in the post positive way,'' Renault team managing director Flavio Briatore said.Trulli, who had been with Renault since 2002, said the move will ``give me the opportunity to start with my new team sooner than expected.''Renault said it would announce its driver lineup for the Sept. 26 Chinese Grand Prix in ``due course.'' Spain's Fernando Alonso is Renault's other current driver.Villeneuve had a seat-fitting at Renault's base in Silverstone on Tuesday and was scheduled to test at the British track Wednesday and Thursday.``This test might lead to Jacques joining the team for the final three races of the season beginning next week at the Chinese Grand Prix,'' Briatore said.After the Chinese Grand Prix, the Formula One season concludes with the Japanese Grand Prix on Oct. 10 and the Brazilian Grand Prix on Oct. 24.

[ArcsVibe]

I guess there are not too many F1 fans here eh?

[AKLGT]

sorry sam. i have no clue what F1 is! are you talking about formula 1 racing? if so, then i don't know anything about it. i don't follow nascar or corr or any of that stuff. lol

[ArcsVibe]

LOL its ok Hope and yes you are right F1 stands for Formula One.

[AKLGT]

atleast i figured it out. lol

[kostby]

Quote, originally posted by ArcsVibe »I guess there are not too many F1 fans here eh? Michael Schumacher and Bernie Ecclestone have seen to that! I went to the Indianapolis F1 practice days the first two years and totally lost interest. Why teams spend US$100 million (or more) a season to consistently run in 8th, 9th, or 10th place is way beyond me. And why sponsors continue to foot the bill for such teams is even more mystifying. Hence, Ford pulls the plug on Jaguar. (Should've keep Bobby Rahal at the helm several years ago!)With few recent exceptions, F1 races are most often a Ferrari parade.If there's little chance of anyone but Rubens B. or Michael S. winning, I'm not the least bit interested.

[ArcsVibe]

Quote, originally posted by kostby »Michael Schumacher and Bernie Ecclestone have seen to that! I went to the Indianapolis F1 practice days the first two years and totally lost interest. Why teams spend US$100 million (or more) a season to consistently run in 8th, 9th, or 10th place is way beyond me. And why sponsors continue to foot the bill for such teams is even more mystifying. Hence, Ford pulls the plug on Jaguar. (Should've keep Bobby Rahal at the helm several years ago!)With few recent exceptions, F1 races are most often a Ferrari parade.If there's little chance of anyone but Rubens B. or Michael S. winning, I'm not the least bit interested.I agree to a certain point but when MClarens (sp?) were winning a while back no one seemed to mine, but since the Ferraris are dominating everyone is complaining about it Maybe the teams need some sort of budget cap? Interesting point, that would maybe level the playing field.

[MadBill]

Ferrari is owned by Fiat, and 20% (or is it 10% now?) of Fiat is owned by GM, so Ferrari is "our" F1 team!

[Raven]

Quote, originally posted by MadBill »Ferrari is owned by Fiat, and 20% (or is it 10% now?) of Fiat is owned by GM, so Ferrari is "our" F1 team! Now if we could just get Jacques in a Ferrari like his father (GILLES), we'd be friggin' laughing!

[MadBill]

Well, at least with Sauber, he gets last year's Ferrari engines....