After posting the fastest time in the trials, Jacques Villeneuve went for a jog down the pit lane in search of his crew members. The 50-year-old Canadian driver expressed that competing in the Daytona 500 has always been a major dream of his.
“It’s incredible to participate in such a significant race at such a high level. When I’m behind the wheel, I don’t even realize I’m 50,” he remarked. “As long as things continue this way, I have no plans to stop racing.”
Initially uncertain about making it to Sunday’s race, Villeneuve faced challenges getting his Ford through Nascar inspection and its performance was initially lackluster. He was pleasantly surprised to end up with the fastest time among the six cars eligible to compete at Daytona.
“I’ve never lost that drive,” he stated. The second spot for Sunday’s race was secured by 23-year-old Noah Gragson, who was born just a year after Villeneuve clinched his Formula One title in 1997.
Villeneuve went on to say, “It might not be as big as winning the Indy 500 or an F1 Championship, but at this stage of my career … just qualifying is amazing.”
The driver brought his two eldest children out of school in Switzerland so they could witness him in action.
