By pitpass.com (12/06/2003)
June 12 2003

1997 World Champion, and Lucky Strike BAR Honda star, Jacques Villeneuve denies that he is a 'has been', Formula One's 'forgotten man'. The Canadian media appears tired of the former champion with the legendary surname and many newspapers are dismissing him as yesterday's news.

"It will make some fun reading," he said when asked about the reports, "I'm feeling good, " he continued, "I didn't even read one paper, so I have no idea what you're talking about and now that you've told me what they're about I probably will not read them.

He was then reminded of an event that happened 25 years earlier, when his father took a famous victory at this very track, the circuit that now bears his name.

As ever Jacques was clearly uncomfortable talking about his father, the legendary Gilles Villeneuve.

"I didn't know," he said of the 'anniversary'. "Great, it's great," he continued. "I guess I'll call my mum, it will be nice.

"I don't know," he added. "It's not something that has much importance to me. The day I stop racing and I have children and grandchildren and great grandchildren then I will probably look at all these numbers and it will be great to have memories, but right now, while I'm racing, all that matters is that we do a good weekend."

Changing the subject slightly, since there might not be a seat in one of the top teams, would he be to join a team at a lower level that is at a slightly lower level and wait a few years longer in order to start winning races again?

"I don't want to wait until I am 50 to be in a position to be competitive again," he fires back. "What you have to understand is that the BAR car has made a huge step forward this year. We have closed the gap with Ferrari a lot and for us that is a very important thing.

"When you make a decision you have to see what is available and what your options are and it is impossible for me to give you an answer until I know what the options really, really are. It is easy to say now 'oh, I only want to drive in these kind of teams' but then when the question is you drive in another team or you stay at home then maybe you change your mindset so I cannot give you an answer right now."

And what about the salary requirements?

"The teams will do everything they can to bring down your value," he replies, "and as a driver, your management will do everything they can to bring up your value. That's the law of the market."

This article was written by pitpass.com and is used with permission.