Grapevine: Minardi: Herta Not Lined Up for Racing Seat

The Minardi Formula One team denied on Friday that American Bryan Herta is being lined up to take the place of struggling Malaysian driver Alex Yoong for the rest of the season.

American Herta, who is currently racing in sportscars after leaving the CART scene, will drive the Minardi car at Donington Park next week as part of the 'Thunder in the Park' event.

But the team insisted that talk of a move that would see him become the first American in Formula One since Michael Andretti in 1993 is premature and said he is not being lined up as a replacement for the disappointing Yoong.

"All of that has been started by the fact that Bryan is coming over to drive at Donington but that arrangement was made back in January," said Minardi spokesman Graham Jones. "There is nothing more to it than that."

Stoddart said that he would have discussions with Yoong after another disappointing performance at the German Grand Prix saw him post his third non-qualification of the season.

But the Australian team chief, who is currently also in negotiations over a buy-out of the team, has yet to speak with the 26-year-old about his performance and will not make a decision on whether to replace him until the week before this month's Hungarian Grand Prix.

"Both drivers have gone back to their representative countries so there have been no talks yet," said Jones. "Paul said at Hockenheim that there would be no move inside the next 10 to 12 days."