Villeneuve Unhappy with Tyre Situation

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve has complained after his BAR-Honda team tested tyres at Silverstone this week that they thought were new but had actually been raced before.

Villeneuve, who has suffered terrible luck this season, said he was surprised to be testing rubber that had been previously raced but admitted suppliers Bridgestone were quite right to favour other teams ahead of his.

"The tyres we thought were new but actually they had been raced before by another team," said Villeneuve. "That was a little bit disappointing. I wish I had had these tyres before this test, like in a race. It happened before in the season and we got to a race and we found out people were using tyres we didn't even know existed so that was a little bit frustrating.

"At Silverstone we were testing tyres that were actually raced in Canada and I don't know, maybe there's a communications problem so that the team has to get into to really understand."

BAR-Honda are currently fighting Jordan for the status of Bridgestone's second best team after World Champions Ferrari with both outfits on 11 points but Jordan ahead because they won in Brazil.

Villeneuve said that BAR should up their game to receive more support from Bridgestone and explained: "One car is winning on Bridgestone and the other teams are having a really hard time, so obviously the job can be done.

"I'm not in the pitlane looking at everybody's tyres, but the car's not finishing the races and they have another team that's winning races. That's what matters."