Past F1, CART Champ Jacques Villeneuve Sets Sights on Daytona 500

• Jacques Villeneuve, 50, participated in and successfully completed the two-day Next Gen test session this week at Daytona International Speedway for Team Hezeberg.

• The past Formula 1 and CART champion last drove in the NASCAR Cup Series at Sonoma in 2013.

• He has started four NASCAR Cup races in his career with a career-best finish of 21st at Talladega in 2007.

Former Formula 1 and CART champion Jacques Villeneuve has his eyes on a different racing prize in 2022: The Daytona 500.

Villeneuve, 50, participated in and successfully completed a two-day test session at Daytona International Speedway for Team Hezeberg and hopes to qualify a Ford Mustang for the this year's Daytona 500. Villeneuve is coming off a season in stock cars in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series in which he won twice and finished ninth in the standings.

He's best known for his championships in CART in 1995 with Team Green and in Formula 1 in 1997 with Williams. Villeneuve won the Indianapolis 500 in 1995. The versatile driver also has experienced the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he finished second for Peugeot in 2008.

Only two drivers in history, Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt, have won both the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500. Only 14 drivers in history have won races in both IndyCar and NASCAR Cup.

Villeneuve has started four NASCAR Cup Series races in his career. His most recent Cup start came in 2013 on the road course at Sonoma, California. His best finish in Cup is 21st at Talladega in 2007.

Villeneuve tested for Team Hezeberg in Charlotte last October.

“There are a few races in the world that stand out for me—the Indy 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Daytona 500,” said Villeneuve. “It’s part of that very small group of special races that if you get the chance, try it out.”

“It was great to be back behind the wheel of a Next Gen NASCAR at Daytona this week. It really is impressive to drive. It was a good test with the new team and although we have some work to do with the qualifying set up we were comfortable and quick when running in the pack. The team is at the start of its journey over here but we are working well and making progress.”