Tuesday October 29th, 2002

By Alan Baldwin

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone says he does not need to be personally involved in CART for it to become a feeder series for his World Championship.

British newspapers reported last week that Ecclestone was planning to buy a 51 percent stake in the U.S. series in a deal to lure more American drivers into Formula One and boost the sport's profile in the United States.

Formula One has not had a U.S. driver since Michael Andretti left McLaren in 1993.

Asked whether he would be interested in a takeover of a championship that has suffered several high-profile defections to the rival Indy Racing League (IRL) series of late, Ecclestone told Reuters: "Probably not. Let's see."

"It doesn't need me to be involved for them to do that (become a feeder series)," he said following Monday's meeting of the Formula One commission in London.

"They could be now couldn't they? People come out of CART, there's a guy coming up for next year, isn't there? So why not?"

Brazilian Cristiano Da Matta, the new CART champion, is expected to join Toyota's Formula One team next season alongside Frenchman Olivier Panis.

CART champions to have entered Formula One include Canadian Jacques Villeneuve and Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya while many former Grand Prix drivers have gone in the other direction towards the end of their careers.

Offer Made

Da Matta, 29, said at Surfer's Paradise on Saturday that Toyota had made him an offer and he was considering it.

"The decision is very important for me. For you it may seem easy, but for me it's a pretty difficult decision. That's the only reason why it's taking so long," he said.

A Toyota spokesman confirmed that the team was 'in close contact' with da Matta, who drives for the Toyota-powered Newman-Haas team, but was not in a position to make any announcement yet.

Team sources said there were still legal aspects to be resolved before any deal could be announced.

CART president and chief executive Chris Pook told a news conference before last weekend's Australian CART race that he was discussing ways of using his championship as a training ground for Formula One.

"Pook's a pal of mine and he's asked me a few things," Ecclestone said when asked about plans for a formal tie-up.

Published at 13:04:15 GMT