Williams could bring Zanardi back to Formula One

   Copyright c 1998 Nando Media
   Copyright c 1998 Agence France-Presse

SILVERSTONE, England (Jul 10, 1998 - 11:27 EDT) - The Williams Grand Prix
team is talking with US CART series champion Alex Zanardi about a possible
return to Formula One next year, Williams co-owner Patrick Head said
Friday.

But Head denied British media reports that the team had cut a deal with
Zanardi to replace either reigning Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve
or his teammate Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

"I can assure you that there are no signed contracts with any
driver" for next season, Head said.

Zanardi, 31, drove for the Lotus Formula One team before he moved to the US
series, where he won the title last year and is leading the current series.

Villeneuve has yet to decide whether he will stay with Williams or move,
perhaps to the new BAR team established by his manager Craig Pollock.

Head said Williams wanted a decision quickly from the Canadian. "We
have always said we wanted to settle our future drivers by mid-year,"
Head said.

Williams is known to be interested in promoting current Formula 3000 racer
and Williams test driver Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya to be its second
driver next year.

Head would not comment on the possible future of Frentzen, whose spokesman
said he was in talks with US CART teams "but not as a direct swap with
Zanardi," who drives for Target Chip Ganassi Racing.

Frentzen is thought to have an option with the Rahal team.

His spokesman said he also might be able to re-join the Sauber team if he
was not retained by Williams.

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