'This is the biggest surprise': Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, 50, qualifies for first Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Jacques Villeneuve has a Formula One title to his name and an Indianapolis 500 victory. He has nothing left to prove and yet celebrated as if qualifying for the Daytona 500 was the biggest win of his career.

The 50-year-old doubted he could make it into the race through Wednesday night's time trials at Daytona International Speedway. His Ford wasn't particularly fast and needed three tries to pass NASCAR inspection.

So when he posted the fastest time of the six cars eligible in time trials to earn a spot in Sunday's field, Villeneuve erupted in joy and jogged his way down pit lane in search of his crew.

«To be able to make such a big race at such a high level is amazing and when I'm in the race car I don't realize that I'm 50, which is good,» he said. «As long as it carries on like this, I can't imagine myself stopping racing.

»It's satisfying and amazing because there's quite a few times where I've been hearing, 'OK, come on. You've passed it. Just give it up.' No, the hunger has never stopped… until the day where I guess you start getting your foot off the throttle because you get a little bit scared or you don't get that adrenaline rush anymore as a positive thing, that's when you should stop."

The Canadian wasn't fast enough to earn a front row starting spot, which are technically the only two positions for the season-opening Daytona 500 available via time trials. Reigning Cup champion Kyle Larson earned the pole and will lead Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman to the green Sunday.

Bowman will start on the front row for the fifth time in his career. It was the seventh pole in the last eight Daytona 500s for Hendrick Motorsports and team owner Rick Hendrick was on the phone with his