Jordan Expect Firman to Race in Indianapolis

Jordan said today that Ralph Firman will drive in next week's United States Grand Prix despite pulling him out of this week's testing session at Silverstone.

Briton Firman missed the last two Grands Prix - in Hungary and Italy - after crashing his Jordan when its rear wing fell off in Saturday morning practice for the Budapest race on August 23th.

He returned to the cockpit for a test at Silverstone last Wednesday and was scheduled to test on Thursday, but was replaced by Hungarian Zsolt Baumgartner, who also filled in for him in the last two races.

"It was his first day back in the car after not driving for quite a while so we decided not to push him," said a Jordan spokesperson. "After his first day we told him to rest and get himself fully fit for Indianapolis.

"Before Monza he was passed physically fit so he is fit to drive. That is why we let him test. But only he can decide if he is feeling fit to drive."

Firman, who made his Grand Prix debut for Jordan this year, has had regular discussions with his doctors although the team confirmed that he has had no "formal" examinations since meeting Professor Sid Watkins at Monza last week.

Rumours have circulated that Firman will not return to the grid for the final two races of this season in the United States and Japan with claims that Baumgartner has developed enough cash to buy the drive.

Firman revealed an inner ear problem to Watkins after originally passing his medical at Monza. He was advised not to race but Jordan insisted: "If Firman is fit to race he will race."