Irvine rules out States move

Eddie Irvine has defiantly ruled out a move to America next season after launching a withering attack on the two Stateside series.

Irvine's future at Jaguar is currently shrouded in doubt as his contract expires at the end of the season.

But when asked if he would accept a pot of gold to go to America, Irvine baulked at the prospect.

He said: "No. I've been there and I've watched it. From Formula One, it would be like going to the British Touring Car Championship. It would be interesting in another capacity, but not as a driver.

"I think there was a lady (Sarah Fisher) on pole position at the last IRL (Indy Racing League) event, so really...

"I would never drive in the States. I've no interest in it whatsoever. I went there in '93 and looked at it when I was doing Japanese 3000 as Toyota were going to go into it and they wanted me to have a look at doing Indy Cars.

"I did look at it, and although a step forward in that it was a bigger series, the Japanese series was definitely more professional."

Irvine then used a colourful analogy to describe the difference between Formula One and IRL and CART Racing, the two American series.

A descriptive Irvine said: "You can't employ someone to be a butcher, and then give them a contract and say 'right, you're not going to be a butcher, you're going to lift the bins'."

And Irvine added: "I've a reasonable idea of what I want to do, but I'm not really any closer to making a decision."