Fearless French Canadian race car driver. Raced in 68 Formula 1 Grands Prix from 1977 to 1982 winning 6 of them.
Killed in a horrific accident on May 8, 1982 during practice for Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder while driving for Ferrari. Afterwards, he was regarded as something of a demigod by the tifosi. The Grand Prix circuit in Montreal was renamed after him.
Father of Jacques Villeneuve, 1995 Indianapolis 500 and CART season championship winner and 1997 Formula 1 World Champion. Fearlessness runs in the family.