Alesi Wants Jordan Decision before Suzuka

Jean Alesi wants Formula One boss Eddie Jordan to make a decision on his future before next week's Japanese Grand Prix.

"I asked Eddie to tell me about his decision before Suzuka," the 37-year-old French driver told the French sports daily L'Equipe. "I have not had a serious discussion with anybody else. But if I must go, I hope to know early enough to find another solution."

He made clear that he had no intention of retiring and L'Equipe said Arrows were interested in him. It quoted that team's commercial manager Daniele Audetto as saying: "We want (Heinz-Harald) Frentzen and Alesi in 2002".

Arrows have already confirmed Dutchman Jos Verstappen for 2002 but Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi's position at the team looks uncertain. Alesi, who joined Jordan from Prost in August after the team sacked Germany's Frentzen, did not comment on the Arrows speculation but said he had looked at the possibility of joining the American CART series.

"It's an option. Right now everybody is shocked by (Italian Alex) Zanardi's crash but I don't absolutely refuse to race in this discipline," he said. "An agent has taken contacts for me with it (CART)."

Jordan have an option on Alesi for 2002 but are trying out young drivers before deciding on who will partner Italian Giancarlo Fisichella at the team. Alesi took a provisional point in his 200th Grand Prix in Indianapolis on Sunday after his current Italian teammate Jarno Trulli was disqualified from fourth place.

The Frenchman, coming to terms with an unfamiliar car and a switch of tyre manufacturer, also came sixth in Belgium last month and is an old friend of Jordan.