Minardi Deny Receiving Fighting Fund Money

The Minardi team today denied having received money from a proposed 'fighting fund' as rival team bosses try to avoid the threat of chaos at the British Grand Prix next week.

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart said during the French Grand Prix that he will not run driver aids on his cars at Silverstone because he feels it would be illegal after the major teams failed to keep their promise to provide money to his team.

The BBC reported today that team bosses had agreed to come up with £2.5 million to appease Stoddart, and ensure the ban on driver aids does not begin at the British Grand Prix.

Stoddart had agreed to support the use of driver aids from the British Grand Prix onwards in January, providing the major manufacturers provided his back-of-the-grid team with 'fighting fund' money.

He withdrew that support in Canada after the money did not arrive, but a meeting of team bosses in Magny-Cours last weekend was "positive" as they look to avoid the sport running into more trouble. But Minardi denied the BBC's claims that any deal has been done and a team spokesperson said: "We haven't seen the money yet. There isn't a deal done yet.

"There was a positive meeting of the team owners in Magny-Cours and there seemed to be a willingness to get the fighting fund sorted out. From our stand point (the story) is premature, until we see money in the bank. But the sounds that have been made are positive and hopefully there will be a successful resolution."