Alonso Pleased with Impressive Jaguar Test

Spain's Fernando Alonso kept an open mind about his Formula One future on Friday after an impressive test with Jaguar at Silverstone.

"If they want me that is good for me," the Renault test driver told Spanish sports daily As when asked about media speculation linking him with the Ford-owned team.

"In the past other teams have been after me and that has meant I have been revalued as a driver. The only difference is that this time I have actually driven the Jaguar and that is why they have made all this fuss. I don't think it will affect my future. At the moment I am only thinking about Renault.

"Achieving the third fastest time when there were 16 cars on the track and in a car that is usually one of the slowest is something to be pleased about," said the 20-year-old.

Unofficial times showed that Alonso was actually fourth fastest, beaten by four hundredths of a second by Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi's Arrows - a car that also uses Jaguar's Cosworth engine.

Although conditions were variable and drivers ran different setups, Alonso was quicker than his compatriot and regular Jaguar driver Pedro de la Rosa.

"The more Formula One cars I test the better for me," said Alonso. "This is the fifth or sixth car which I have tried out and it went pretty well."

Alonso drove for Minardi last season, making a strong impression even though he did not score a point. He also tested with Benetton, now Renault, at the start of 2001.

Renault recalled him from Minardi last season and he was seen as a threat to Briton Jenson Button, on loan from Williams, whose contract expires at the end of the year.

However Button has regained the form he showed in his debut season at Williams, when he became the youngest driver ever to score a Formula One point.

Jaguar, whose contract with Briton Eddie Irvine is up for renewal, asked Renault to allow Alonso to drive the R3 car in a benchmark test to assess their own junior drivers Andre Lotterer of Germany and Australian James Courtney.

The team has scored only three points in seven races this season and has struggled with an uncompetitive aerodynamics package.