A challenge for everyone: JV's resume...

[karimbo]

I would like to ask everybody out there to post the most precise version of JV's resumé (including wins or podiums), from when he started racing back in 1988 in the Turismo championship in Italy and his 3 years in Italian formula 3(89-90-91) his year in Japanese F3 in '92 and formula Atlantic in 1993. I would like to compare it with some other drivers...

The results will be interesting for all true racing fans to know.

Thank you all !

[senna12]

Originally posted by karimbo
I would like to ask everybody out there to post the most precise version of JV's resumé (including wins or podiums), from when he started racing back in 1988 in the Turismo championship in Italy and his 3 years in Italian formula 3(89-90-91) his year in Japanese F3 in '92 and formula Atlantic in 1993. I would like to compare it with some other drivers...

The results will be interesting for all true racing fans to know.

Thank you all !

I suspect you have his resume on hand, have made the necessary comparisons, and are waiting for the opportunity to enlighten us. So go for it.

[Turbo_Era]

No doubt JV has a great CV... but in F1 (or motorsports in general) you are only as good as your last result.

Just remember the old Piquet x the young Schumacher. Piquet had a great CV, 3 WDCs, a couple of wins driving a Benetton (the poor Flavio didn't expect that). At the end of the day, a great CV doesn't mean you will be quick forever.

JV got a new chance to show if he still has what it takes. So let's see. Can't wait for next season

[Wrex]

In the real world, your only as good as your last race.

(Something Webber, Michael and a few others would'nt be happy about)

[Redlake27]

I remember his F3 performances - they were not stunning at all. He was inconsistent, and not particularly fast. He was clearly very impressive in the US, but then it is always difficult to judge the depth of talent in champcars.

[Armco Bender]

I couldn't find a postage stamp small enough to write them on......

[Ryo28]

I seem to recall that the first title he actually won was the Indycar Championship in 1995...

[Super Tourer]

JV's 'CV'


http://f1.racing-live.com/en/index.html

87/89 F3 Italy
1992 F3 Japan
1993 Formula Atlantic, 3°, 186 points
1994 IndyCar, rookie of the year
1995 IndyCar, 1°, 93 points, Indy 500 miles, 1°
1996 F1 (Williams), 2°, 78 points
1997 F1 (Williams), 1°, 81 points
1998 F1 (Williams), 5°, 21 points
1999 F1 (BAR), 0 point
2000 F1 (BAR), 7°, 17 points
2001 F1 (BAR), 7°, 12 points
2002 F1 (BAR), 12°, 4 points
2003 F1 (BAR), 16°, 6 points

[Jordi]

I think the depth of talent in Indy in 1995 was amongs the highest ever.

[Rennen]

So he did 4 years of F3!...wow!...any results?

[ALFA ALFA]

And what years was the hair yellow, orange, green and gone?

[raul_iulian]

His CV is not that impresive! Try to check out other drivers resume!

[pirenzo]

No, JV's resume isn't very impressive really until he gets to champ cars.

[Tweed]

He must have been one of these late developers then, remember, he had virtually no karting experience.

[Jordi]

Exactly. What does count? Zero titles in F3 or a CART and an F1 crowns?

[Jordi]

He was also 2nd or 3rd in Japanese F3, so he wasn't horrible in F3.

[Dixie Flatline]

Apparently, in his early days at race driving - I think he didn't take it up until 12-13, whereas some now racing apparently take it up at 4-5 - Villeneuve was so afraid that his fellow competitors would think him arrogant for being the son of a legend and let competitors pass him!

He also found the pressure of being the son of Gilles and racing with the Villeneuve name in Europe too much to cope with, so he went to Japan where Gilles Villeneuve is not a revered legend to gain experience at racing, before trying his hand at Champcars.

I don't recall it being mentioned, but Jacques was also the Rookie of the Year in 1994, and then won the title in '95 before shifting to Formula One. I wonder if Sebastian Bourdais is aware of this?!

[Jordi]

Jacques had a hard time in Italy - surely too young to cope with the Italians' passion for the Villeneuve name and the pressure. When he got to Japan, he was competitive, though in his JapF3 and Atlantic days he would normally be all or nothing. In Atlantic he was 3rd having won 5 races but not being consistent enough. His teammate in the Player's Forsythe Green team, Claude Bourbonnais finished second but Jacques was the one that the team took to get to CART. Was it fair? Probably not. But after a rookie of the year title, a CART title, an Indianapolis 500, 4 more wins and several poles, no one questioned whether it had been a mistake to take Jacques.
And well, in 1996 and 1997 he was one of the hottest properties in F1. He set pole at Australia. New track for all, but he still did beat Damon. He also set pole at his first Spa visit. And Suzuka. And challenged for the title.
In 1997, he left everyone else 1.7 s behind in qualifying for Australia. Even his own teammate. I wonder if it's still the largest qualifying gap between 1st and 2nd since then. And well, he won that title. He did beat Schumacher the only time they fought for a title.

1998, 1999, 2000. I don't think you can question Jacques' talent in those years. He always drove the wheels off the cars, normally bringing them where they shouldn't.
2001, 2002, 2003...I can see lack of motivation, even if his contract was a great one. I believe he had motivation at the start of 2003, but when the car started failing repeatedly I think he just shut off completely, therefore being seen as an "angry" Jacques.

[HiRich]

Many years ago, at the Player's tobacco company, there was a marketing man called Tom Moser. Player's would always sponsor some cars at the Trois Rivieres race. Tom was called into his boss's office and told "Make sure we get Jacques Villeneuve in one of our car, as he's a bit of a celeb round here".

Now, Tom knew nothing of motorsport. So he made a few calls, and found out Jacques was racing in Japan. The deal was done, and he proudly went back to his boss to pass on the good news. It soon became clear, however, that he had Jacques the son, while his boss was expecting Jacques the brother.

They decided to hell with it, and stuck them both in. Junior did a fine job, and was soon on his way to Indy stardom.

So you could argue that JV's whole career was built on a mistake.

Tom moved to BAT, and wrote the strategy that defined the creation of British American Racing.

[Hazza]

And remember, it was the Indianapolis 505 that he won

[Jordi]

Originally posted by HiRich
...clear, however, that he had Jacques the son, while his boss was expecting Jacques the brother.

They decided to hell with it, and stuck them both in. Junior did a fine job, and was soon on his way to Indy stardom.

So you could argue that JV's whole career was built on a mistake...

Blame Gilles!

[RWC]

certainly interesting-one of those rare drivers that are born for the upper grades of the sport
i.e- he's at his best in the highest powered,most difficult cars
Webber seems similar in that he didn't do all that well in lower classes (?not absolutally sure about that)

Didn't shuey do a slightly similar thing where he wasn't the fastest in sportscars?

[QuickSilver]

If I remember correctly, Jacques came from 2 laps down to win the Indy 500. Half way through the race he finally got the set up dialed in and proceeded to storm through the field. It was magic.

And in Jacques' F1 rookie year, one race I distinctly remember him out in front of Damon Hill the whole race. Damon tried and tried but just couldn't find his way by the impetuous upstart. The front of his car was covered in oil from Jacques' car. With all of his tearoffs gone, lap after lap, you could see Damon madly wiping away the oil from his visor with his hand. In the final laps Sir Frank ordered Jacques to let him by to perserve the car, or keep more oil off him, or to avoid Jacques blowing his engine. I just remember being mesmerizing that this rookie could keep his much more experienced teammate behind him. Damon was silky smooth and Jacques was on the ragged edge the whole time. Great stuff.

Love him or hate him, Jacques has given us all many memorable moments and I for one thought F1 lost a little when Jacques left. Now he's back and I'm all a-tingle just thinking about it.
-

[Snrub]

At the '95 Indy 500 JV was looking good to win when he was penalized brutally for a very minor mistake going into the pit. The rest of the race he clawed his way back to the front. Near the end he caught up to Scott Goodyear who was leading the race. Goodyear went into the pits made a more severe although still minor infraction and was penalized less severly. Goodyear was outraged and refused to achknowledge the penalty and to this day thinks he was the rightfull winner of the '95 Indy 500. By the end of the race there wasn't much in the way of good competition running, but I will always remember that race because JV beat the officials.

[Jordi]

Goodyear passed the pace car once, Jacques passed it twice, but Jacques didn't know he was the leader and Goodyear just wanted a bigger jump on the opposition.