Jordan says things must change

Team Principal Eddie Jordan has said that radical changes must be accepted by teams if Formula One is to survive. A month after Prost Grand Prix were declared bankrupt with debts of approximately $25million, Jordan said teams should back plans by the FIA to make sure the same fate does not befall anyone else.

"They have been talking about cutting Friday practice and making it a test day instead and that could be a good thing." He said. "Anything that drives down costs and improves the show should be encouraged to see if it works. Formula One is not immune to the economic downturn, but it is a sport that is regularly watched by 400-million people on TV around the world when the races are on. The sport is costing far too much. We need to be more realistic. Radical and brave decisions have to be made."

Jordan has made changes to his team's sponsorship this year with DHL taking over Benson and Hedges as title sponsor now the tabacco advertising ban is approaching in 2006. As for the upcoming season, the new EJ12 has a redesigned front chassis and front suspension and the design team have come up with a mechanical power-assisted steering system to take over from the now banned electrical power steering. While the Jordan team had some problems with the Honda engine in winter testing, the boss thinks they have sorted out the gremlins and the Championship is more open this season.

"Ferrari will be very strong, but why are they using their car from 2001? I have never seen so many majority shareholders in teams under so much pressure to perform as they are this year. We've been working very hard and we have made real progress over the last two weeks." He said.