Briscoe Crash Spurs Davidson to Stay in F1

The BAR test driver had been considering making the switch to racing in the United States with only a few options left in F1, but he has now gone off the idea of the IRL after seeing Briscoe's accident at Chicago two weeks ago.

"I would always have the option of doing America but having seen the horrendous shunt of Ryan Briscoe I might try my luck at Formula One for a longer period," said Davidson, who is talking to Jordan and Williams about a race seat for next year.

"At the end of the day I enjoy what I do and I drive the best car in the world, I do like what I do. Obviously a race drive is where I want to end up and the sooner it happens the better.

"It obviously gets a little bit more difficult but I still am close to getting a drive for next year, even without Friday running. I still have a reasonably high profile in this game up and down the paddock, I just have to push as hard as I can."

Davidson recently took part in a one-day test with Jordan and, although he has no sponsorship package to help him buy a drive, he is hopeful that his talent will be enough to convince the team's bosses to give him a chance.

"I think we all got everything we wanted out of the day and now it's down to whether they can get the sponsorship for next year," he said.

"We are in talks with Williams and everyone else who does have a drive available. I have no money to buy a drive, and they are the last of the teams that I believe would accept paying drivers.

"I don't have that kind of budget and [British prime minister] Tony Blair isn't going to give me enough money to get a drive there. It's up to them to get the money side sorted and it's up to me to drive the car as quick as I can. I think I did that the day I drove for them.

"It was good fun actually, seeing a different car to what I'm used to driving. It's really fun to look at how to improve things. Straight away there were small details with the car that would make a driver feel more confident to push it straight away."

Should his chances at Jordan and Williams evaporate, then Davidson could remain at BAR as a test driver - but he knows time is running out to make a decision.

"We do have a guarantee of staying here but I need to let the team know before not too long," he added.