Villeneuve Shrugs Off Burden of History

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve brushed off the weight of history today as he prepared for a home Grand Prix 25 years after his late father Gilles won in Montreal.

"Oh, I didn't know," the 1997 champion told a news conference at the circuit that now carries his father's name when asked about an anniversary that has fired up local interest.

"It's great," he said. "I guess I'll call my mom and it will be nice. It's not something that has much importance to me. The day I stop racing and have children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren than I'll probably look at all these numbers.

"It will be great to have memories. But right now, while I'm racing, all that matters is that we do a good weekend."

Gilles Villeneuve, who won for Ferrari in the first race held at the island circuit in the St Lawrence Seaway in 1978 and died at Zolder in Belgium in 1982, is the only Canadian to capture his home race.

Jacques came second in 1996, his debut year, but has failed to score a point in six subsequent appearances to the disappointment of a nation far more immersed in Formula One than its US neighbours.

Villeneuve's apparent insouciance was dismissed by some locals as no more than a sign that he wished to shut out the past, since it would be remarkable for him to be truly unaware of the theme of the weekend.

But the BAR driver has more pressing concerns if his career is not to become history as well.

His manager Craig Pollock was quoted in local newspapers as saying that the 32-year-old would definitely be staying in Formula One next year but Villeneuve was giving little away about what the future held.

He agreed that he expected to remain - "unless he (Pollock) does a very bad job" - but said it was still too early to assess all the options.

However, he agreed that a call from Ferrari was unlikely, given Michael Schumacher's decision this week to extend his contract by two more years to the end of 2006, since he would not accept a subservient role.

"I wouldn't drive in Rubens (Barrichello)'s position, which means he's not allowed to have anything, then no that wouldn't suit me," he said. "But you can always have a team like McLaren do, they don't have a number one and two, they have two number ones."

Villeneuve, whose contract at BAR is up for renewal this year, has retired from four of his seven races this season and he said he was looking forward to better luck and more reliability from his team. But he said the lack of success meant there was less pressure on him at home.

"If we had come here after winning a few races this year then there would be pressure. The only bad thing that could happen is that the car finally doesn't break down but I go off. That would be a bad one. But we should be competitive, definitely. The car has been a big improvement this year.

"I just hope the monkey will jump off my back because its been a little bit difficult this year."