Herbert rules out racing return with Arrows

A veteran of 162 Grands Prix, Herbert was announced this morning (Thursday) as the third driver for the Leafield-based team, and has been brought on board to help develop this year's AMT-powered A22.

Should either of the team's regular race drivers Jos Verstappen or Enrique Bernoldi be unable to drive this year, Herbert may be called upon to race, but the 36-year-old is adamant that he is not trying to find a way back into F1.

"I don't want to make a comeback," said Herbert, "I'm not doing this to find a way back into F1. If I do come back because of circumstance, then I'll just be doing it for the good of the team. [If Jos or Enrique were ill] then I would think about it. We would have to sit down at the time and talk about it."

The ever-popular Herbert hung up his GP helmet at the end of 2000 after 12 years in F1 and was intent on crossing the Atlantic for a switch to Champ Cars. He turned down a test drive role with the Williams team, but the Brit's US deal fell through leaving him virtually high and dry.

However, the option of the Arrows drive became apparent a few weeks ago and it enables Herbert to drive throughout the year while also allowing him to compete at both Le Mans and the Indianapolis 500, as reported on Autosport.com yesterday (Click here for separate story).

"I don't feel bitter about it [the Champ Car deal falling through]," said Herbert. "I was offered the test deal by Frank [Williams] at the end of last year, but at that time my situation was that I was going to the US. I still believe I will be doing what I wanted to do anyway because I'm doing the 500 and Le Mans."

Herbert is planning to compete in the three IRL races preceding the Indy 500 in order to acclimatise to the car and also to give him a realistic chance of winning the race. The former Jaguar driver's berth at Le Mans, a race he won with Mazda in 1991, is expected to be with Bentley, which returns to the La Sarthe classic for the first time in seven decades.