Villeneuve adds Daytona 500 start to storied racing career
His Ford had needed three tries to pass NASCAR inspection and just hours before Wednesday night's time trials, Villeneuve had written off his chances in the first round of qualifying. But everyone knew the Hendrick cars were going to lock down the front row in time trials; Hendrick had the three fastest cars and four of the fastest five. Villeneuve was in one of the six cars vying for those one of the spots and locked himself into his first Daytona 500 by beating the other five open teams. Villeneuve just last week explained why a 50-year-old world champion would show up at Daytona with a brand new team. But after earning a spot in the Daytona 500 — Villeneuve missed the race 14 years ago in his only other attempt to run “The Great American Race” — he didn't particularly think he'd done anything special.
wftv.comVilleneuve tries to add Daytona 500 to his storied career
Villeneuve will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 this week for a new European start-up team. Villeneuve tried to make the Daytona 500 in 2008 but failed to qualify. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File) (Darron Cummings)Jacques Villeneuve tried 14 years ago to race the Daytona 500 to add to his storied racing resume. “The Daytona 500 is one of the three big races on the planet,” Villeneuve said. He drives for the team in Europe alongside the younger Hezemans and agreed to help with the Daytona 500 effort.
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