Villeneuve Rules Out CART Return

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve has ruled out returning to the American CART championship unless he is offered a "golden contract".

British American Racing boss David Richards is believed to be looking for options to retain Villeneuve and French teammate Olivier Panis in 2003 despite the entry of Renault driver Jenson Button at Brackley-based BAR.

The team principal said that he was in favour of Villeneuve returning to CART for a year as BAR concentrate on the technical development of their car in order to offer their driver a competitive machine in 2004.

However Villeneuve, who won the CART title in 1995 with Player's Forsythe team before moving to Formula One, has said that he has no intention of returning to America.

"At the moment, apart from a golden contract, I don't see any reason to go racing in the States," said the Canadian driver, who has an estimated salary of $20 million per year. "I just read (about) it today because I didn't get any papers when I was away and I just read today a bit of what has been written and that apparently I have to make a decision. You only make a decision when you have choices available."

1997 World Champion Villeneuve has one year left of his contract with BAR to run, but Richards already said earlier this year that he wants a long-term deal for the Canadian. Villeneuve, however, claimed that he had no received any proposals from the team yet.

"I would be open to a longer term if there was any proposition made to think about it, but I have been asked this question for the last six months so I guess the purpose of saying things like that has had an affect because then for six months there has been a lot of hassle about it with no reason," he added.

"But there is no proposition anywhere so what should I think about? I am just happy to go on with my contract. It's very simple."