Jacques Villeneuve Getting a “Bailout” of his Own
Jacques Villeneuve, former CART champion (WAY former), former World Champion slightly less former), former driver for the British American Racing F1 entry (*Retch*), recipient of a BMW unceremonious boot out of F1 (Robert Kubica goes on to fame and fortune in the ride), Speedcar Series lifeline grabber for a couple 2007 events, Jacques-fan teaser by attempting, then failing to make the 2008 Daytona 500 field (the sponsorless car and Villeneuve is tossed aside), co-driver of Peugeot Sport’s second place 2008 Le Mans entry and finally… Jacques stands with hat-in-hand looking for something, anything, that has wheels and a steering apparatus.
But wait… Jacques has noticed the latest buzzword that’s all the rage lately.
He’s getting a “bailout,” a Speedcar bailout.
Although the official calendar for the second Speedcar season has not been confirmed (testing has started) Jean Alesi has revealed that he and Jacques will once again be racing as part of the support races at the 2009 Bahrain and Malaysian F1 Grands Prix and is “thrilled” his follow Frenchman Villeneuve will be lining up on the Speedcar grid.
“Johnny Herbert will be back to defend his title of course and we are pleased to add Jacques Villeneuve to our shores for the entire season,” Alesi said. “I am really thrilled to have Jacques join us. I raced against him in F1 and he is certainly the kind of driver we need to make a great spectacle for the fans and win races in Speedcar.”
So, there you have it Villeneuve fans (all two or more of you) the latest in Jacques’ world.
Enjoy.
UPDATE: Speedcar has released its calender for the second season.
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With these Middle East nations that host Speedcar events being awash with cash, how much are these “name” drivers being paid.
I’m guessing the F1 retirement brigade is laughing all the way to their pension funds.
For a new series promoting itself in the region, bragging about a field of ex-F1 pilots would not come cheap.
Marc, it’s good to see another Jim Bamber fan, his cartoon in Autosport is the first thing I turn to.
The Bamber cartoon would have been funnier if instead of a Honda logo a dollar sign were used. He went to BAR for the cash.
George - “He went to BAR for the cash”
Yeah, and Jacques was the only one to come out of that fiasco with any.
Lol, that cartoon was in year 2 when he was threatening to leave.