Grapevine: Jordan Coy on Abramovich Speculation

Jordan sidestepped media speculation on Monday that Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich was interested in buying the Formula One team and had held secret meetings with Eddie Jordan.

While British newspapers reported that the team boss and Abramovich had met four times in the past month, a Jordan spokeswoman confirmed only that the two had met last year at a Grand Prix and a soccer match.

"Other than that, it is positive to see the level of interest in Formula One and in our team. That's a good thing," she added. "Eddie's interest is in the security of the team and making it as competitive as possible."

Jordan are the only team with no confirmed drivers for the new season starting in Australia in March and are waiting for sponsorship deals to slot into place before making any announcement about their lineup.

The team finished a dismal ninth overall last year despite winning a chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix with Italian Giancarlo Fisichella. Abramovich, who bought premier league club Chelsea last year and spent massively to turn them into title challengers, attended the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring in June as a guest of Bernie Ecclestone.

The Russian has also been linked in past media speculation to struggling Minardi and Sauber, the remaining privately-owned teams in a sport dominated by major car manufacturers.