Rahal Confirms Irvine and de la Rosa for 2002

Jaguar boss Bobby Rahal has confirmed both Eddie Irvine and Pedro de la Rosa will stay with the team in 2002, despite rumours about their interest for Briton Jenson Button.

Button, currently at the struggling Benetton team, is on a two-year loan from Williams, where he made his Grand Prix debut last season, and it was reported that Jaguar was trying to lure the young Brit in a near future. However, Rahal has confirmed that both their current drivers will stay with them team in 2002.

"We've got our two drivers for next year â€" we've got Eddie and we've got Pedro," Rahal told Autosport. "Our line-up is confirmed for next year and, after that, Eddie's contract is up for the end of 2002. It is interesting, really, because who else is there? Ultimately, what our decision will be for 2003 won't happen for some time.

"This year has shown how good Eddie really is. "I think Pedro drives differently than Eddie, and I think his pace in the race is different. Eddie can go out and put a lap in just like that, and Pedro takes a little bit more time."