Villeneuve: why change BAR management?

Villeneuve has defended the existing regime amid speculation that CART team chief Barry Green is being wooed to either replace or work alongside founding BAR boss Craig Pollock.

"I think the team is doing fine," said the Canadian. "The team has been progressing quite a lot so I don't see why there is any need for change."

Green guided Villeneuve to victory in both the Indianapolis 500 and the CART championship in 1995 but the 1997 F1 champion is resisting a reunion.

"I had a great time with Barry in '94 and '95 and I'm sure I could have a great time with him again. But at the same time I'm having a great time with the people I'm working with now, so I wouldn't want to change them."

Green has admitted to limited talks with BAR's major shareholder, British American Tobacco, but Villeneuve claims he is in the dark over moves to bring his former team boss on board.

"There's been a lot written about it," he continued, "but honestly, I haven't seen anything from the inside, so I'm not sure where the stories are coming from. I have no idea how much truth there is to the rumours. I'm really not involved in them and I haven't heard anything from within the team, so it surprises me a little bit."

Australian-born Green's BAT-backed Team KOOL Green is one of the front-runners in the CART Champ Car series, fielding cars for Scotsman Dario Franchitti and Canadian Paul Tracy. The outfit is set to expand next year to include a third Motorola-backed car for former CART champion Michael Andretti.