Drivers wary of F1 wildman Jacques Villeneuve at Townsville 400

THERE are genuine fears former F1 world champ Jacques Villeneuve could ruin the Townsville 400 for one of the V8 Supercar championship contenders.

HE is a former Formula One world champion but there are genuine concerns Jacques Villeneuve could ruin the Townsville 400 for one of the championship contenders when he competes in a regular V8 Supercar round.

Famously slammed as a "bonehead" by Aussie ace Marcos Ambrose following a NASCAR tussle, Jacques is one of the highest profile world racers to compete in a V8 Supercar race.

Ford championship contender Mark Winterbottom has admitted he will be wary of the famous French Canadian, while Russell Ingall has no doubts the 1997 F1 champion will cause a stir in northern Queensland starting with practice tomorrow.

"There is no doubt he is capable of some poor steering and I don't think he will care too much about where guys are coming in the championship," said Ingall.

"Some of the other drivers are whingeing and moaning that he could stuff up there championship but to be honest he needs to be in a position up the front to do that and I can't see that happening.

"But if one of them slips back, well that could be a concern for them but they wouldn't be doing a very good job on the day anyway.

"The thing that always sticks in my mind about Jacques is a remark Ambrose made in NASCAR a couple of years back. He took Marcos out on one of the road courses and Marcos called him a bonehead after going back out and fixing him up.

"I guess we will have to wait and see if he does any bonehead moves up in Townsville."

Villeneuve has had V8 experience, racing on the Gold Coast in 2010, but he competed against fellow international drivers in a one-off format.

Winterbottom, who closely trails Jamie Whincup and Will Davison in the race to the title, said he would be cautious of Villeneuve but said the highly experienced driver was unlikely to cause any championship carnage.

"I think he was pretty good in his race on the Gold Coast," Winterbottom said.

"But we race a little bit different to what he is probably used to. I have seen NASCAR, and he will drive like that.

"I have no doubt he will have a go and there is no doubt he is competitive. He will have a crack but I will give him some credit and predict that he won't be doing anything silly.

"I don't think he will be that far off the pace, and he will be better than what we think but he is certainly an unknown and that will concern some. He is not a regular so you certainly have to take a bit more caution if you end up racing him."

Not in the championship hunt, Ingall encouraged Villeneuve to have a crack and not be concerned by the prospect of ruining a contender's race.

"It doesn't bother me," Ingall said. "I just hope it makes for good TV and for a good show. If he wants to get amongst it and fence a few people, that is OK, but if he gets me I'll do a Marcos and get him back.

"Everyone wants to bitch and moan about everything so I would just suggest they get out and get on with it like everything else.

"You grow too old to worry about these things."