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Apr
30th

IndyCar: Jacques Villeneuve shakes off rust during refresher (+photos)

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Canadian Jacques Villeneuve took the wheel of his Honda-powered Dallara DW12 Tuesday during a refresher on the Indianapolis super speedway.

Much has changed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and in the sport since 1995, when Villeneuve won the 79th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

But the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval remains the same -- challenging and fun.

IndyCar Jacques Villeneuve Indy500
Jacques Villeneuve (Photo: IMS)

Villeneuve recorded 83 laps in the No. 5 Dollar General-sponsored car for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports with a best of 217.742 mph as part of his refresher test.

The first practice session for the 2014 Indy 500 is May 11, with qualifications May 17-18.

IndyCar Jacques Villeneuve Indy 500
Jacques Villeneuve (Photo: IMS)

"It took a while to get there. The first few laps were surprising because it felt like I was going fast and I looked and it was 180 (mph)," Villeneuve said.

"I thought, 'There's still a long way to go,' and then 190. And another 10 laps I started getting in the rhythm, and once you start going flat all around it becomes easy. I think your brain, your vision just needs to get used to driving at speed."

IndyCar Jacques Villeneuve Indy 500
Jacques Villeneuve (Photo: IMS)

In addition to demonstrating car control, placement and consistent driving pattern, the refresher program consists of 30 laps that constitute the second and third phases of the Rookie Orientation Program at speed intervals based on track and weather conditions.

IndyCar Jacques Villeneuve Indy 500
Jacques Villeneuve (Photo: IMS)

"When I came here last time, I had already driven on ovals at high speed," said Villeneuve, who was the 500 Rookie of the Year in 1994 when he finished second.

"It felt crazy fast back then and it felt crazy fast today. We weren't trimmed out yet, but there was no point with the (25 mph) wind and the track was very green. At the end, we even managed to work on the mechanical set-up of the car and that made it nicer.”

IndyCar Jacques Villeneuve Indy 500
Jacques Villeneuve (Photo: IMS)

If Jacques Villeneuve qualifies for the race, he'll set a record for the biggest gap between starts held by Cy Marshall and Roland Free between 1930 and 1947.

IndyCar Jacques Villeneuve Indy 500
Jacques Villeneuve (Photo: IMS)

IndyCar Jacques Villeneuve Indy 500
Jacques Villeneuve (Photo: IMS)


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