Minardi Run Into US Entry Visa Problems

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart, who owns his own European Aviation airline, said his team's preparations for the United States Grand Prix next week had been made more difficult by the additional security measures.

Stoddart said Minardi, who have Formula One's only Malaysian driver in Alex Yoong, intended to fly their own plane to America but visas were proving a major problem.

"Half our team hasn't got one," he told BBC radio. "That has given us our biggest headache."

Stoddart said he was confident the team would be at Indianapolis but "the degree of difficulty necessary to achieve the desired result is proving somewhat testing."

He also expressed concerns about what might happen while teams were over in America and about the following race in Japan two weeks' later.

"My real fear is that I am sure the freight is going to get to the States but I would think that the security coming out of the States is going to be even more comprehensive," he added.

He said team owners had discussed Indianapolis at the last race in Monza and agreed that if America wanted them to go then "it was incredibly important that we show a united front and attend and put on a show."