Today Jacques Villeneuve is thinking about his "older brother" Roland Ratzenberger, and after all these years he still feels pain for the late Austrian, his "older brother" who lost his life during the tragic 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend.
Days at Imola that rank among the darkest in F1 history. On Saturday during Qualifying, 33-year-old Ratzenberger when the front wing on his Simtek broke and plunged into the barrier at 300 kph. Killing the driver instantly.
At the scene of the crash shortly after it happened was Ayrton Senna, clearly aggrieved by what was happening, the triple F1 World Champion was seen in conversation with F1 Doctor Sid Watkins. The doctor, a good freind, suggested Senna should quit racing with immediate effect such was the emotional state of the Brazilian.
But he did not. A day later, tragically Doctor Sid could do nothing to save Senna who lay bleeding in the cockpit of his crushed Williams, after he crashed heavily at Tamburello early during Sunday's race while leading. The day was 1 May 1994. Three decades ago.
In the space of 24 hours the sport witnessed death twice, robbing F1 of its greatest star at the time. That it dwarfed Roland's death was inevitable considering their relative fame, internationally.
Notabbly, 34-year-old Senna was a living legend at the time, a 41-time Grand Prix winner in his tenth season in the top flight. Ratzenberger, a year younger, but only attempting to Qualify for his second F1 race.
JV: The great memories I have from Japan involve Roland
Jacques Villeneuve - whose father F1 and Ferrari legend Gilles Villeneuve died when he was ten - revealed to the media team Casino Online that he had a special connection to Ratzenberger: "I remember him fondly. He was like an older brother to me. He was just there.
"The great memories I have from Japan involve Roland. He took me under his wing when I moved to Japan. He was racing in Japanese Formula 3000 for Toyota who I was racing for too. He was fun. He was not living in Tokyo.
"He would often jump in his car and drive to Tokyo to party with us and then sleep in his car because he couldn’t drive back! He was really old school in that respect. Life was to be enjoyed.
"When I saw him get into F1 I was so pleased for him. It was amazing. And he was in his early 30s which is late really for a driver," recalled Violleneuve, who in 1994 started his first season of Indycar.
Looking back on that tragic 30 April 1994, Roland's final day, Villeneuve reflected: "I think it was only Roland’s third Grand Prix. It was a really tough weekend, awful in every respect.
"What I find the most painful is that every year at this time people ask me how I feel about the anniversary of Senna’s death. I told them I didn’t know Senna but I knew Ratzenberger. They’d say: Oh we don’t care about him, we care about Senna," said the 53-year-old Canadian.
JV: The whole grid went to Senna’s funeral, only five went to Roland’s
"I would respond: I care about Ratzenberger, he was my friend, he’s the one I care about. I find that very painful even today. Suddenly Senna was a big loss but apparently Ratzenberger wasn’t. That is how most media people portray it and I find that awful," lamented the 53-year-old Canadian.
Villeneuve continued: "That shows you how ridiculous it all was. People say their deaths were a big loss for F1. No, they were a big loss for the families who have to grieve. Ratzenberger was as much a loss as Senna.
"For me, Ratzenberger was the bigger loss because he was a friend. I was watching the weekend on television. It sticks in the memory. Two dead drivers, accidents in the pit lane and at the start. It was just bad luck. Things just went from bad to worse over 48 hours.”
I have lost different people in racing so I go cold and don’t react. That started with my father’s death. After Roland, I became super close to Greg Moore and then he passed away [1999 Indycar crash] so I didn’t tend to get close to drivers.
"You just turn cold because that is self-protection. You don’t show your emotions and keep it all inside," added Villeneuve, who is probably best qualified to private analysis on losing a loved one to the sport you love.
Ironically, Roland crashed and died at what is called Variante Villeneuve, named after the father of Jacques and F1 legend Gilles Villeneuve. It was 20 April, 1994, at 13h15 Imola time.
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