Jacques Villeneuve

Birthdate: April 9, 1971 - St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Canada
Height: 5-6
Weight: 147
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
First Season: 1994
Indy Car Starts: 31
Indy Car Victories: 5
Indy Car Poles: 6
Indy Car Earnings: $4,097,732


RACING CAREER: Family moved to Europe from Berthierville, Quebec, in 1978, when father Gilles' Formula One career took off ... 1986: Attended Jim Russell Formula Ford racing school in Mont Tremblant, Quebec ... 1987: Moved to Formula 2000 racing school in Shannonville, Ontario ... 1988: Competed in three races in the Alfa Italian Touring Car Championship ... 1989-1990: Raced Formula Three in Italy ... 1991: Competed in third season of Italian F3 ... In an uncompetitive car, finished the season with three poles, one second-place finish, two thirds and two fourths ... 1992: Second in points in powerful Japanese F3 series on the strength of three victories ... Finished third at the Macau F3 Grand Prix ... Finished third after being hand picked by Toyota to compete for the factory team in first-ever Japanese Group C race in a normally aspirated car ... Made North American racing debut, finishing third in Trois Rivieres Formula Atlantic race for Player's Ltd. ... 1993: Competed in 15-race Player's Ltd./Toyota Atlantic Championship, finishing third in points with five victories and seven poles with Forsythe-Green Racing ... Named Player's Ltd./Toyota Atlantic Rookie of the Year ... Set five lap records and five qualifying records ... First Canadian racing victory was at the Montreal circuit named after his father ... Tested Forsythe/Green Lola at Mid-Ohio and Indianapolis ... Raced F3 at Fuji Grand Prix and Macau Grand Prix ... In October, announced as Forsythe/Green Racing driver for full 1994 PPG Indy Car World Series with sponsorship from Player's Ltd. ... 1994: Started 16 races in his rookie season for Forsythe/Green Racing ... Scored first career Indy Car victory at Road America ... Finished second in first Indy 500 ... Scored points-paying finishes in 10 races ... Won IndyCar and Indy 500 Rookie of the Year honors ... Was the only rookie to lead laps during the season ... At 24 became youngest Indy Car driver to reach $1 million mark in earnings...1995 : Became youngest PPG Cup Champion in history (24)...Won four races for Player’s Ltd./Team Green (Miami, Indy, Road America and Cleveland) en route to becoming only Canadian ever to win title...Led series in wins and poles, (six, including three in a row) and points scored on ovals...Only driver to win races on oval (Indy), permanent road course (Road America) and street circuits (Miami and Cleveland)...Also had podium finishes at Nazareth (second), Toronto (third) and Mid-Ohio...Finished fourth at New Hampshire and fifth at Phoenix for a total of nine top-five finishes...Will move to Williams Formula 1 team in 1996.

PERSONAL: Son of late Formula One hero, Gilles Villeneuve ... Single ... An extremely talented skier, decided at age 17 to pursue professional racing over skiing career ... Enjoys music.

WINS (5) - 1994: Road America; 1995: Miami, Indianapolis, Road America, Cleveland.

POLES (6) - 1995: Portland, Road America, Toronto, Mid-Ohio, Vancouver, Laguna Seca.

POINTS (Standing): 1994 - 94 (6th); 1995 - 172 (1st).



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