Monday March 11th, 2002

Japanese tyre manufacturer Bridgestone have admitted they could supply the new Formula One team if the squad are able to make it onto the grid this year.

However, Bridgestone has said that there have been no contact between them and the 'Phoenix' team so far and it is, therefore, highly unlikely that they will be present at the Malaysian Grand Prix this weekend.

"No approach has been made from us, and we have not been approached," said Bridgestone spokeswoman Sarah French. "Without tyres they are not going to be racing and there is no way we could turn things around for this weekend. All the tyres are already in Malaysia.

"But we always have the capacity to make more tyres, and we would be able to get things ready for Brazil if asked. If an approach was made we would consider it."

Bridgestone has long-term links with Arrows boss Tom Walkinshaw and his TWR company, which will be running the engineering on the new team if it comes to fruition. And French admitted that with rivals Michelin now supplying six of the current 11 teams, the addition of Phoenix to the Bridgestone fray would be a leveller.

"We are satisfied with the five teams we have," said French. "But we quite like things to be equal and that would even it out."

Published at 17:11:53 GMT