Villeneuve considering his racing future

Jacques Villeneuve is not counting out a return to Formula One but is also considering NASCAR, which he thinks could be an exciting prospect. Villeneuve has been at somewhat of a loose end since BAR dispensed with his services at the end of the 2003 season and is currently considering his future prospects.

"You never know what will happen and whether an opportunity will come up," said Villeneuve, speaking at the annual Mont-Tremblant 24 hour ski event for charity. "I haven't shut it (F1) out so completely that if a good opportunity came up I wouldn't take it."

"Career-wise, in open wheel (racing), I can only see Formula One. Le Mans would be a fun thing to do but I don't see it as a career thing. What could be exciting is NASCAR, but I don't know because I haven't even looked at it. If I went into a paddock now, maybe after an hour I'd just want to escape. I have no idea."

Villeneuve believes his F1 career was undermined by detrimental paddock gossip that labeled him uncooperative and difficult to work with, traits that he denied were true. He thinks NASCAR would be a more supportive environment.

"It's completely different from anything I've done before and that's a big part of the excitement," said the Canadian. "And it's very different from Europe. In Europe, when you achieve something, it gives everyone else a reason to try to destroy what you've achieved. In NASCAR, it's the other way around. It's always been important to respect the establishment."

Villeneuve withdrew from the final F1 race of the season at Suzuka when BAR announced it was not renewing his contract. Since then he has been keeping a fairly low profile but its always possible he may return to racing of some type in the future.

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