Phoenix still grounded

Officials at the Interlagos circuit, which hosts the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend, have confirmed that would-be F1 team Phoenix will not be present. Rumour had it that Phoenix would try again to reach the grid after its abortive attempt in Malaysia -- the team, headed by British businessman Charles Nickerson and backed by Arrows' boss Tom Walkinshaw arrived in Malaysia with former Prost cars, only to be turned away by the FIA.

Nickerson was believed to taking Phoenix to Brazil, possibly with drivers Gaston Mazzacane, who confirmed a few weeks a go he had a contract with the team, and former Minardi driver Tarso Marques. However, circuit official say they have not received any requests for extra pit space from either Phoenix or the FIA.

There is some confusion over the name of the team: recently it was changed to DART, a name that Walkinshaw has used before, then changed back to Phoenix after a brief period. Whatever name they are using, the team is currently in dispute with the FIA over the governing body's decision to not allow it to race, due to only buying assets of Prost and not the right to join the 2002 Championship.