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Talks underway between Jordan and Heidfeld

Nick Heidfeld says he is willing to step in if Damon Hill quits the Jordan team

The Formula 3000 championship leader is said to be at the top of the Irish team's wish list of drivers if the ex-champion decides to call it a day.

And at Silverstone on the eve of the British Grand Prix Heidfeld said talks were already talking place between Jordan and McLaren-Mercedes where he has a long-term contract.

'If there was a chance I would like to do this [drive for Jordan],' he said.

'But I don't know how much truth there is in the stories. At the moment I am trying to concentrate on Formula 3000. '

'It is my manager Norbert Haug and Ron Dennis who are trying to fix something there.

'For me it is more important to concentrate on F3000 - especially now talks have started.'

The big problem for the man from Moenchengladbach is how he can combine his Formula 3000 and F1 commitments if the chance arises. Even the rumour of an F1 opportunity could cause problems, he believes.

'If I wasn't quick in F3000 now people would say I was thinking about F1 too much - which isn't true at all. Also if you are slow people find a reason for it. Even more important now to be quick."

Jordan are the on-form team after Heinz-Harald Frentzen won the last round in Magny Cours - and hot favourites to finish third in the championship behind McLaren and Ferrari.

'The team that is doing well at the moment, it is a very competitive car and Heinz-Harald Frentzen is from the same city as I am. It's quite funny.

I'm not sure how keen the sponsors are to have two drivers from the same city in the car.

'I haven't spoken to Eddie Jordan or anyone at the team personally yet - at the moment I am waiting to see how talks progress.'

'I have quite a good chance of being in F1 next year. F3000 is the second highest class and if you are doing well that should give you a good chance to get into F1.

'I have also done quite a lot of testing with McLaren and most of the time I have been quick.

Also my manager, and McLaren and Mercedes are good in their business and are trying to help me so I am in a good position to try and find a drive for next season.

'I definitely won't do another season of Formula 3000. I want to be in F1 next year. Another opportunity would be Indycars.

'It's a very good series but my target is Formula One. Formula One is the top for me, the highest thing.

'It is difficult to know whether to do a couple of learning years with a lower team or go straight in with a top team if I had the chance.

'Some drivers have gone to a top team and fall down you may never get another chance in F1 but opn the other hand if you are successful straight away it is a difficult decision.

'If I was deciding for myself I would go for it. It's more other people thinking you need one of two years in a mid-field team to learn first.

'I cannot expect to go there and be very very quick immediately.

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