Jacques Villeneuve 1995: a historic Indy 500 win and CART championship
30 years ago, Jacques Villeneuve wrote a major chapter in motorsport history. On May 28, 1995, he won the Indianapolis 500 after completing 505 miles—two more than the official distance due to a penalty. A few months later, he was crowned CART champion at Laguna Seca. I was in Indianapolis to cover Pole Day and the race. Here’s my perspective on this exceptional performance, illustrated with a few key images.
A difficult start, a dramatic race
Villeneuve started from the second row after a crash in practice forced him to switch cars. During a caution on lap 38, confusion reigned: officials gave no clear instructions, and Jacques passed the pace car twice. He was penalized with a two-lap penalty. Many drivers would have given up. He didn’t.
The Green team stayed calm. Race engineer Tony Cicale changed strategy. Goodyear’s experimental tires—originally intended for the final stint—were fitted right after the penalty. They delivered outstanding grip. Villeneuve began a remarkable comeback, pushing at qualifying pace during every stint while consuming less fuel than his rivals.
A race full of twists and turns
Villeneuve’s race included several tense moments: a near-spin in Turn 2, a plastic bag stuck on the antenna that forced him to lean forward under caution—despite modified harnesses. He kept going without stopping, showing impressive composure.
He retook the lead on lap 156. On lap 163, just as he was about to pit, a yellow came out. He reacted instantly, stayed on track, and avoided a second penalty. With 16 laps to go, a final caution placed him behind fellow Canadian Scott Goodyear.
The decisive move
Villeneuve decided to force a mistake. Behind the pace car, he varied his speed, moved left and right. When the safety car lights went off, Goodyear accelerated too early and overtook it—a clear infraction. Jacques hit the brakes to avoid repeating his earlier mistake. Goodyear was penalized and removed from the classification. Villeneuve won the Indianapolis 500… after running 505 miles.
CART Champion 1995
Following that win, Villeneuve continued to perform at a high level. Consistent and focused, he arrived at Laguna Seca in control. On September 10, he managed the final race and secured the CART championship. A perfect season.
Successful debut in Formula 1
In 1996, Jacques joined Williams in Formula 1. In his very first race in Melbourne, he scored pole position and finished second behind Damon Hill, after leading 56 of the 58 laps. He ended the season as runner-up in the World Championship. The following year, in 1997, he became Formula 1 World Champion with 7 wins that season.
Photo coverage of the Indy 500
I had the opportunity to cover the event for the French photo agency DPPI. Here is a selection of my photos from the 1995 Indianapolis 500. My personal favorite: the pit stop, captured at the precise moment when the whole team’s coordination is put to the test.
About the author: Sebastien Desnoulez began his career as a motorsport photographer. He has covered the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Formula 1, the CART championship and major events across the globe: in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Australia, Argentina, and during the Paris–Cape Town rally. He now focuses on architectural and travel photography, with an approach rooted in observation, precision, and composition.
Click the images below to view them full screen.
All the photos displayed on this website are copyright protected © Sebastien Desnoulez. No use allowed without written authorization.
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