First, it was Peugeot's 908 Le Mans program. Then, a series of attempts in NASCAR, culminating in a Sprint Cup Series start for a then-relatively competitive Phoenix Racing in 2013. For a few races in 2012, it was Australian V8 Supercars for Kelly Racing. Then it would be the World Rallycross Championship. As recently as 2014, it was a potential return to the IndyCar after a one-off at the Indianapolis 500. This season, it was going to be Formula E.

1995 Indianapolis 500 winner and 1997 Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve has built an extremely diverse resume since his 2006 F1 exit. Unfortunately, just about every one of his attempts at a comeback has either ended prematurely or never reached the heights originally promised. His stint with Peugeot was relatively successful, tallying one international sports car win and a second at Le Mans, but elsewhere, he has a combined zero wins in Formula E, V8 Supercars, World Rallycross, IndyCar and NASCAR's top three series. At this point, it should come as little shock that the 44-year old Canadian ex-megastar is still finding opportunities in strange places, and it should be equally unsurprising that these opportunities keep falling apart before the midpoint of seasons.

His time with the Venturi Formula E team partially owned by Leonardo di Caprio followed the pattern to a tee. Villeneuve was announced to join the team alongside fellow Peugeot veteran Stephane Sarrazin in early August, nearly three months before the start of the 2015-2016 Formula E season. A multi-page press release contained a glowing look at the former World Champion's accomplishments, team CEO Gildo Pastor even went as far as to say "it is my true pleasure to welcome" Villeneuve.

Just three races later, the team would release a significantly less-optimistic press release. Just three sentences and without any quotes from CEOs or other drivers, the team announced the termination of Villeneuve's contract, calling the move a "mutual agreement" and the reason for the split "a mutual disagreement over the future direction of the team".

Shortly afterward, the team announced the signing of Mike Conway, an IndyCar street racing expert who is a perfect fit for a series consisting only of races on street circuits between single-seat, spec-besides-the-powertrain Dallaras. Conway had previously accepted a Formula E seat with Dragon Racing in the category's inaugural season, but when his responsibilities with the Toyota FIA World Endurance Championship team increased to a full-season race seat last season, he would have to leave the program. Conway is likely an upgrade in performance over Villeneuve and would almost certainly be a championship contender had he joined the series in its first round, but if the split really was mutual, one has to wonder what lead the Canadian star who described returning to driving on a track in in a single-seater as "real happiness" just six months ago to leave the team.

No matter his reasoning, Jacques Villeneuve will not be on the grid for Formula E's fourth round of their second season (and first of 2016) when the series visits Buenos Aires in two weeks time.

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