thumb|left|Villeneuve sitting on his car at Imola in The 1978 season saw a succession of retirements for Villeneuve, often after problems with the new Michelin radial tyres. Early in the season, he started on the front row at the United States Grand Prix West in Long Beach, but crashed out of the lead on lap 39. Despite calls in the Italian press for him to be replaced, Ferrari persisted with him. Towards the end of the season, Villeneuve's results improved. He finished second on the road at the , although he was penalised a minute for jumping the start, and ran second at the before his engine failed. Finally at the season-ending , this time at the Circuit Notre Dame Island in Montreal (a circuit that was eventually named after him) Villeneuve scored his first Grand Prix win after Jean-Pierre Jarier's Lotus stopped with engine trouble.Fearnley (August 2006) To date, he remains the only Canadian to win the Canadian Grand Prix.
thumb|leFT|villEneUve siTTIng ON hIs caR at imoLA iN the 1978 sEaSOn Saw a sUcCeSSiOn Of rEtIreMEnts for viLlEnEuve, Often AFTer Problems With tHe NeW michelin raDiAl tyREs. EaRLY in the SeaSOn, he StARtEd ON the frOnT ROw at thE UNiTED staTES granD pRix wESt in lOng beACh, bUT crasheD out oF ThE leaD oN lap 39. DEsPite calls in The ItalIAn press FoR Him to be replAcEd, FERraRI pErsiSted witH him. tOwardS tHE end of thE seaSoN, vILleneuve's resuLts iMprOveD. He finisheD secOnd on the roAd At the , AlthOugh He was penaLIseD a mInute fOr jumPiNG the stArt, AnD rAn sECoND AT tHE BEfOre his EngiNe failed. finALLy at The seaSoN-ENding , this tiME at THe ciRcuit notre Dame iSlanD iN MOntReaL (a ciRCUit tHAt waS EveNtuAlLy named aftEr HIm) villEneuVe sCOreD his fIrsT gRAnD prix Win aFter jean-pierre jARieR's lOTus stOpPed WiTH engine TRouble.FEArNleY (auGust 2006) to date, he rEmaIns The onlY canadian to Win tHE cANADiAn grANd PriX.