Villeneuve shrugs off Button challenge

Villeneuve, who won the world championship in 1997 and qualied sixth for Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix, faces a challenge from the Williams-BMW ace, who wants his seventh place in the drivers' championship.

But the British American Racing driver insists that he is more concerned about outpacing Fisichella, who is only three points and one place ahead in the drivers' table.

Villeneuve is looking to improve on his ranking and promote his team above Benetton, who are two points ahead in the constructors' table.

"I am happy to have qualified where I have - sixth is not bad, but obviously, higher on the grid would have been better," said the Canadian. "It is also quite pleasing because we were having trouble with the engine during the session. I am not exactly sure what it was at the moment but we still qualified in a reasonable position.

"Jenson has told me that he wants to finish ahead of me in the drivers' championship, but I don't care really. I am not interested. I am more bothered about getting in front of Fisichella," continued Villeneuve, who saw his Italian rival qualify 13th.

"It is him I want to beat. There is more at stake in both the drivers' and the constructors' championship. We are here this weekend because we want to get in front of Benetton. We are only two points behind, so it is very possible we can do this. That is the most important thing for me."

Villeneuve, however, will have to overcome on-form Alex Wurz who, in his last qualifying session for Benetton, took fifth on the grid.

He added: "I wasn't surprised at Alex's form. He has been quick all weekend and he enjoys qualifying."