NASCAR Cup Daytona 500
Villeneuve forced into engine change ahead of Daytona 500
Former Formula 1 world champion and Indy 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve has been forced into an engine change ahead of Sunday’s Daytona 500.
Charles Bradley
Edited: Feb 20, 2022, 5:20 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Villeneuve earned his spot on the starting grid on time in qualifying on Wednesday, as his Team Hezeberg squad is a non-charter team.
Villeneuve suffered a pre-race engine problem before his Duel race on Thursday and was forced to retire from the race when the issue recurred after 34 laps.
His team then discovered a more serious engine problem while running it up, ahead of final practice on Saturday.
When asked by Fox Sports about the engine issues, Villeneuve replied: “Well, we fixed the Thursday problem, but then we found out this morning that we’d dropped a valve, so we have to change the engine.
“So not a lot of laps for me, and I was wanting to try to the pit lane entry and pit-out a little bit today. But 500 miles is a long time to learn all of that tomorrow.”
Jacques Villeneuve, Team Hezeberg, Ford Mustang Hezeberg Engineering Systems
Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
Villeneuve has been racing in the Euro NASCAR series in recent years, winning at Vallelunga in Italy, and says he feels his racing career has been revitalized in stock cars.
“When I was in F1 I didn’t think I would be able to drive anything else,” added Villeneuve. “I was so focused and groomed for those kind of cars, and it’s not until I jumped into a NASCAR that I realized there was a lot of fun to be had driving something different and I’ve had a blast ever since just jumping in different kind of cars.
“The most fun I’ve had racing has been in NASCAR – not qualifying, because it’s hard to beat the speed that you get in Formula 1, but racing wheel-to-wheel or fender-to-fender, you can’t beat the way it goes in NASCAR.”
Jacques Villeneuve livery
Photo by: Uncredited
Villeneuve’s #27 Ford Mustang has secured primary sponsorship for the 500, with Woodie’s Wash Shack adding its blue colors to the orange of the Dutch-owned car (above).
Woodie’s owner Don Phillips said: “This is a lifelong dream. I love NASCAR and IndyCar. We already sponsor the St. Pete Grand Prix, so to be a part of this great story with Jacques at age 50 qualifying for the Daytona 500 is really a special moment.”
Read Also:
- Ford rookie Harrison Burton leads final Daytona 500 practice
- Hamlin: Daytona 500 risks being “strung out” due to Next Gen draft
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Hendrick signs Chase Elliott to five-year contract extension
Next article Chase Briscoe, Daniel Hemric fail pre-Daytona 500 inspection
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Charles Bradley
Mika Hakkinen on his darkest day in F1
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mika Hakkinen on his darkest day in F1
Dillon: Spotter was “wrong” to shout “wreck him!” before Hamlin clash
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Richmond II
Dillon: Spotter was “wrong” to shout “wreck him!” before Hamlin clash
Hamlin: NASCAR stripping Dillon of win would be “warranted”
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Richmond II
Hamlin: NASCAR stripping Dillon of win would be “warranted”
More from
Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Villeneuve calls out Oscar Piastri after costly Azerbaijan GP error: "Rookie mistake"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Jacques Villeneuve calls out Oscar Piastri after costly Azerbaijan GP error: "Rookie mistake"
Jacques Villeneuve defends Red Bull team orders call at F1 Azerbaijan GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Jacques Villeneuve defends Red Bull team orders call at F1 Azerbaijan GP
Jacques Villeneuve delivers verdict on Esteban Ocon's F1 future
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Jacques Villeneuve delivers verdict on Esteban Ocon's F1 future
Latest news
Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
5 h
Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links
Did Haas make the correct decision in signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
7 h
Did Haas make the correct decision in signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027?
Frederik Vesti steps up to full-time role as Cadillac Racing details 2027 IMSA lineup
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 7 h
Frederik Vesti steps up to full-time role as Cadillac Racing details 2027 IMSA lineup
Rafael Camara to replace Esteban Ocon at Haas for F1 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
7 h
Rafael Camara to replace Esteban Ocon at Haas for F1 2027
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe