Bridgestone Won't Supply New Team in Malaysia

The new Phoenix Finance Grand Prix team arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday in time to make an audacious late bid to get on the grid for Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix.

But Phoenix, run by British businessman Charles Nickerson, face a major problem as both Bridgestone and Michelin confirmed that they were unable to supply tyres to the team in time for the second race of the season in Sepang.

"Without tyres they are not going to be racing and there is no way we could turn things around for this weekend," said Bridgestone spokeswoman Sarah French. "All our tyres are already in Malaysia."

However, French revealed that the company would be interested in supplying the new outfit because it would level out the distribution of teams between the two companies, and there could be a supply ready in time for the Brazilian Grand Prix on March 31.

"We always have the capacity to make more tyres and we would be able to get things ready for Brazil if asked," she said. "If an approach was made we would consider it because although we are satisfied with the five teams we have, we like things to be equal and that would even it out."

Michelin have already declared that they are happy with the teams that they currently supply and so Phoenix could be left without rubber for the two Prost AP04 chassis they have leased from the liquidated French team.

"We have six teams and we are very happy with them," said Michelin spokesman Andy Pope. "We are sticking with six teams and there has been no pressure to do otherwise."

Argentine Gaston Mazzacane has confirmed that he has a contract to drive for the team this year with former Minardi driver Tarso Marques of Brazil linked with the second Phoenix seat.