Angry Richards Vows to Fight Back

BAR-Honda team principal David Richards vowed to sue the company that seized his cars and prevented them from running in Friday practice for the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours.

The BAR cars were locked in their transporters at the start of morning practice after being seized in the paddock on Thursday night but a Nevers court overruled the order and released the machines late on Friday morning.

Richards says the Monaco-based company PPGI - who believe they are owed $3 million (USD) by BAR for a sponsorship deal made five years ago - harmed the team's chances in this weekend's race and warned them he will get revenge.

"I think the situation is very clearly gloves off," said a livid Richards. "We are going to really consider our position against them now and I've got the lawyers coming here to discuss it. I'm angry that the legal system can be abused in this way.

"Anybody in the crowd could do exactly the same thing to any team in the paddock. It has exactly the same value as this case has. Someone could walk in from the crowd to Jean Todt and say 'I had a deal with Ferrari five years ago, here's my bill for $3 million (USD) so pay me now'. Exactly the same would happen in the court here under those circumstances."

Briton Jenson Button and Canadian Jacques Villeneuve both missed the morning practice session because the team did not have enough time to prepare their cars after they were released.

That means they will both be driving cold in the afternoon qualifying session and, on a wet Magny-Cours track after continued drizzle followed a morning rainstorm, that will make life very difficult for them.

"With limited time to run it is important to get every minute on the track," said Richards. "To quantify how much it will cost us is difficult. We will just drive round slowly and get used to the track.

"Quite clearly we are going to be the two slowest in qualifying barring anyone going off the road. But who knows it might stop raining after the first 10 minutes of qualifying."