Jordan has appealed the FIA’s decision to strip Jarno Trulli of fourth place in the US Grand Prix in Indianapolis on Sunday and team boss Eddie Jordan hints at who could partner Giancarlo Fisichella next season.
Jordan has appealed the FIA’s decision to strip Jarno Trulli of fourth place in the US Grand Prix in Indianapolis on Sunday.
Trulli was disqualified after it was ruled that the skid block on the underside of his Jordan EJ11 was illegally worn. The underbody skid block, known as the “plank”, has to be at least 9 mm in thickness for it to be legal. Trulli’s skid block was 1,5 millimetres too thin.
The team said it would lodge notice of appeal, but would not make any further comment.
The decision meant that Jordan lost the three points that had temporarily promoted them above BAR to fifth place in the constructors’ championship. But with Jean Alesi promoted into the points after Trulli was demoted, the Irish team drew level with BAR.
Meanwhile, team boss Eddie Jordan has admitted that he is trying to to sign British Formula 3 champion Takuma Sato to partner Giancarlo Fisichella next season.
"I believe he’s quick. I think if you check his record, he’s won more Formula 3 races than anyone in the British series before, although it has changed slightly as there are two races now on some days.
"One thing’s for sure, he is a very big talent. But there are a lot of good drivers up and coming. I think there is a resurgence. If there’s five or six drivers you’re looking at, of course, Sato would be one of them."
This is not good news for 37-year-old Alesi, who currently has the drive and would like to stay with Jordan next year. Jordan has said that Alesi and Sato are the main contenders, but he has also been raving about the new, young drivers.
Jordan also mentioned Indian Narain Karthikeyan and newly-crowned F3000 champion Justin Wilson as possibilities for the seat. "I think both of them are very impressive. It just seems to be that there’s a number of young drivers who have really strong ability and it’s a matter of trying to find the correct one."
