F1 Jacques Villeneuve how the mighty have fallen...

[ArcsVibe]

Article on the former Canadian F1 World Champion....man I wish he can get his act together, he is such a great driver! Villeneuve hardly missed as Canadian Grand Prix begins Bill Beacon Canadian Press June 10, 2004 MONTREAL -- It will be the first Canadian Grand Prix since 1996 without Jacques Villeneuve on the grid, but it seems the Iberville, Que. driver will hardly be missed. The race is already sold out and organizers expect to draw the same 300,000-plus spectators for the three days of racing that have turned out in recent years, when Villeneuve was thought to be the star attraction. ''The absence of Jacques doesn't make a difference to our ticket sales or to the popularity of the event,'' said Richard Prieur, vice-president of communications for the race. ''Formula One fans are the same, with or without Jacques on the grid. ''Motorsports fans are car-maniacs. Once a year, they want to see that kind of a machine. It's not a matter of who's going to win. They want to see the start, the manoeuvre, the passing. Plus, this track always produces a good show.'' The event begins with two practice sessions Friday, followed by qualifying Saturday and the race Sunday (12:30 p.m. ET). The race will start earlier than usual this year so as not to clash with the European soccer championship. Ferrari ace Michael Schumacher of Germany, who has won six of the first seven races this season, will be seeking his seventh Canadian Grand Prix victory and third straight. Last year, Schumcher held off his brother, Ralf, for the victory as the top four cars finished within five seconds of each other. Thousands flocked to the Gilles-Villeneuve Circuit on Thursday for a free peek at the cars and the bustle in the garages on open house day. They got their first look at the cars without their cigarette advertising as a ban on tobacco sponsorships that nearly scuttled the event last fall went into place. The Ferrari cars and pit crew uniforms had blank white patches where the Marlboro ads usually go. The Canadian Grand Prix was dropped from the Formula One calendar when the federal government refused to soften anti-tobacco legislation. It was reinstated when organizers came up with $30 million (including $12 million from the federal and Quebec governments) to compensate the teams for lost ad revenue. Montreal got its race back, but not its favourite driver. Villeneuve was let go after five frustrating years with the BAR-Honda team at the end of last season and failed to find a ride for 2004. There is a chance he will return to Formula One next season with the Williams team, for whom he won a world championship in 1997. He met a month ago with team boss Frank Williams, but there is no word on whether he will be hired. Williams must replace Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia, who will jump to McLaren-Mercedes next year, and may also replace Ralf Schumacher, who has struggled since finishing fourth at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Williams reportedly has interviewed five or six other drivers and won't make a decision until the end of July. Villeneuve was in Montreal last weekend visiting his downtown restaurant Newtown, but it was not known if he would attend the Grand Prix. The outspoken son of the late Ferrari driver Gilles Villeneuve has been missed more for his emotional outbursts and open criticism of teammates and opponents than his most recent performances on the track. ''We miss him,'' said Sauber driver Giancarlo Fisichella of Italy, who counts Villeneuve as a friend. ''For Formula One, it would be nice to have him back.'' Jordan Ford driver Nick Heidfeld of Germany said: ''Obviously, the people of Canada miss him very much, but I have to concentrate on myself and I don't care too much about him.'' The Canadian event was a source of annual frustration for Villeneuve, even in his glory years. After finishing second to Williams teammate Damon Hill on his first try in 1996, Villeneuve found little but engine failure and crashes at his home race, twice smacking into the same Welcome to Quebec ad on the wall at the top of the home stretch. Now, with Villeneuve gone, BAR-Honda is having its best year since it joined the F1 circuit in 1999. Jenson Button of Britain, brutally ridiculed by Villeneuve when he joined BAR-Honda last season, is third in driver standings and has been to the podium five times in seven races. Villeneuve's best was two third-place finishes in five years with the team. Takuma Sato of Japan, who replaced Villeneuve for the final race of 2003 and moved permanently into his seat this season, has been in the points twice and has built a reputation as an aggressive - some say dangerous - driver. It will be Sato's first Canadian Grand Prix since the change, but he said he felt no urge to try to show up Villeneuve with a top result. ''I'm looking forward to it, but it's just one race,'' said Sato. ''If it's Suzuka (Japan) or here, there's no big difference. ''I just want to have a strong race this weekend.''

[Sputnik]

Villeneuve has been my favorite driver since he came on the Indy scene in '94 (with Greg Moore, RIP, a close second). When he won the Indy in '95 after getting the two lap penalty - wow! I waited outside his paddock trailer in Toronto in '95 for hours for him to show up. He never came so I showed up again the next day. He drove past me on his scooter about 3 feet away surrounded by so many security people - it was insane! But I got close to him at least.

[ArcsVibe]

I really do like his driving but his attitude is something else...that is why after BAR let him go he couldn't find another team to race with. After Schumy he was the most paid driver but with 0 results to show no one wants to pay his salary and take his BS. Like I have said before I really hope he gets his head and act together and race like the champion like his dad was...now Gilles was a class act!

[Sputnik]

Yeah he's got an attitude, but really I think most of the drivers have attitudes.

[ArcsVibe]

True very true but you gotta back it up lol

[Sputnik]

Well you know they get interviewed on TV after an accident and its always some other guy's fault. That, or they stand on the track after an accident and wait for the other guy involved to come around again so they can flip them the bird. Just dumb stuff like that.

[Sputnik]

I was able to go to a driver's meeting with Michael Andretti once (I didn't go with him - he was the "star" driver at the meeting) and he was bad mouthing Paul Tracy most of the time. They've never gotten along.