Book excerpt: Gilles Villeneuve became a legend in his own time, a driver whose skill and daring personified the ideals of Grand Prix racing, the pinnacle of motor sport. With his flamboyantly aggressive, press-on-regardless style in his scarlet Ferrari, he captured the imagination of a vast international audience as no other driver has in recent times. His tremendous fighting spirit and pure passion for driving produced so much high drama and deeply felt emotion that Villeneuve became one of the greatest sporting heroes. His enduring legend owes much to its classic elements of tragedy, for he was a charming young man of humble origins who achieved undreamed of fame and fortune by givign his all to the sport that ultimately took his life.