F1 Rumour: Villeneuve sabbatical 2003

[paul-collins]

Any likely sportscar implications of this rumour?

Jacques would skip the 2003 season and then continue with the team for another two years from 2004 onwards on his orginial terms. This would mean that BAR could save money in the short-term and be able to invest it in the car. Then when the car has improved, Villeneuve would return to partner Jenson Button.

-planet-f1

I'm thinking, Eddie Irvine has previously tried to get JV to run Le Mans (and he's likely gone from Jag F1 at the end of this year, should the rumours pan out). Could JV end up in a decent ride for Le Mans next year?

(My understanding was that JV was interested, but that Honda stopped him. As an even more far-fetched rumour, how about Mugen ramping up its engine program for JV?)

All idle speculation, of course. You get what you pay for.

[kdr]

an interesting enough rumour...plus it just shows you how bonkers f1 is!

[Liz]

Jacques and Eddie at Le Mans together? All they need is Jean Alesi for a third driver and they'd draw in a whole new audience -- for the four or five laps they stayed on the track!

The pitlane intrigue alone would be worth the price of admission.

[PhilD]

Hi Paul, With speculation like that you would fit right in at the Fan Club.
PhilD

[SFonseca]

2003 seems to be the year to see Villeneuve at Le Mans. It would be good for the big race.
Who will pay for Jacques and Eddie at Le Mans together?

[SL]

That could be interesting, JV could then equal G Hills feat of F1 Champion, Indy winner and Le Mans winner.

Just thinking what car he could drive, sure to be a Bentley seat available, probably an Audi as well. Probably Panoz though. Team mates ? M Andretti would be good double.

Simon

[paul-collins]

So long as Mugen/Honda doesn't force him into the Panoz 07 (or if Multimatic finds about 30 seconds a lap at Le Mans ) I'd be happy. I'm sure he'd angle for an Audi seat, though.

As for your post about Graham Hill's record, why not get MARIO as his teammate? Then both could get the record at the same time!

[SL]

I think I did mention Mario as a team mate but never mind.

Just thinking who else is able to complete the triple, I can only think of Mansell, but did he win Indy ? or Phil Hill, who I think did win indy. Both now happily retired.

Simon

[paul-collins]

Sorry, when you said M Andretti I assumed the son. My mistake.

Mansell won the CART championship but not the Indy 500. Hill never won the 500. Emmo did, though.

[SL]

I could just see JV and MA as teamates. I doubt that Emmo will ever return to serious racing, so that's it.

[Liz]

Mario is exceedingly slow. In the Panoz he averaged about 8 secondds a lap slower than his two teammates. With their singular lack of tact and diplomacy, I doubt very much if Jacques and Eddie would be the right team for the driver of the century who was already a champion when they were still teething.

However, put them in the Champion Audi and it'd make history even if they didn't win.

[kdr]

in some articles eddie says he wouldn't go back to lm because of the dangerous gentleman drivers - in others he says he loved it, the atmosphere/history/nightracing.

contrary messages from eddie...shurely shome mishtake

[egor]

Perhaps this is why Alain Prost has bought his 6 Audi R8's, all these drivers need a ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Aysedasi]

It would certainly be interesting to see Jacques at Le Mans next year, but he really needs a decent car (...where have I heard that one before....? ).

As for Mario, after his last outing at La Sarthe, I seriously doubt that we will see him back behind the wheel there again.

[SFonseca]

Jacques Villeneuve is not about to quit Formula 1 and return to the CART Championship Series, says his manager Craig Pollock.
"Jacques is in F1, he has his contract in F1 and has no intention of doing anything else," Pollock stated.
F***, I want to see him at LeMans.....