Former F1, Indy 500 champ Jacques Villeneuve focused on Daytona 500

The next race is always the most important to any driver, but next weekend’s Daytona 500 carries additional significance to Jaques Villeneuve.

“The Daytona 500 is one of the three big races on the planet,” said Villeneuve, who won the 1995 Indianapolis 500 and the 1997 Formula 1 championship.

“You have the Le Mans 24 Hours (he finished second there in 2008), the Indy 500 and Daytona, so that’s one reason for doing it.”

While drivers with Formula 1 experience have raced in the Daytona 500, no former F1 champion has competed in NASCAR’s biggest event of the season. Mario Andretti won the 1967 Daytona 500, but he didn’t claim his F1 championship until 1978.

There is no guarantee Villeneuve will make this year’s field. At least five cars are expected for the four spots to non-chartered teams, including Villeneuve’s Team Hezeberg. 

The organization seeks to make its first Cup race at Daytona and run the six road courses this season with Loris Hezemans, the 2019 and ’21 EuroNASCAR Pro champion.

Villeneuve will battle at least Kaz Grala, Timmy Hill, JJ Yeley and Noah Gragson for a spot in the Daytona 500.

Villeneuve attempted to make the 2008 Daytona 500, but he crashed in his qualifying race and did not make the 500. 

“It’s a little bit of a gamble when you have to qualify during the Duels,” Villeneuve said. “You could be the quickest car out there and still get caught out. When I tried to qualify years ago … the car was quick, but then I got caught up in a crash and then you don’t make the show. It’s very stressful.”

Villeneuve has four Cup starts. His best finish was 21st at Talladega in 2007. He has nine Xfinity starts. Villeneuve’s best finish in that series was third at Montreal (2010, 2012) and Road America (2011). He