Button closer to BAR contract

JENSON BUTTON could be confirmed as a BAR-Honda driver for next season later today as his contract row nears a conclusion.

The 25-year-old has a contract for 2006 and beyond with Williams but has been attempting to escape that deal since deciding in July he would prefer to stay at BAR.

Behind-the-scenes talks have been underway since the summer and Button reported two weeks’ ago in Belgium that progress was being made. Now it seems likely an announcement on the conclusion of those negotiations will be made in the next couple of days, probably on Wednesday.