Friday June 16th, 2000

Williams team owner Sir Frank Williams says reports that Juan Montoya will drive for Williams in 2001 are at best premature.

Recent speculation has suggested that the current CART champion will replace British rookie Jenson Button in the team for next season.

But Williams, in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix, said, "It's very easy to be clear on this. He's under contract for next year to Chip. Maybe Chip will release him; maybe not."

Williams originally recommended Montoya to Chip Ganassi when twice CART champion Alex Zanardi joined Williams from Ganassi's team in 1999, as Montoya had shown promise in his role with the Williams test team, as well as in Formula 3000.

Montoya signed a three year deal with Ganassi, and in his rookie year in the Champ Cars, won seven races and the Championship. This year, bad luck and unreliability has seen him low in the points standings, but the last two races he has competed in have both been wins, one of which was the prestigious Indy 500 in the rival IRL series.

"All I can tell you is Juan Pablo Montoya entered into a three-year, fixed-term contract with Chip Ganassi," Williams said. "I have first option for JPM's services for Formula One, when he becomes available."

Asked if he would like to see Montoya driving one of his cars next year, Williams said: "We're not at that point in the season yet."

However, Williams is obviously impressed with Montoya, and believes that Montoya should make the move to Formula One soon. "From what I've seen on TV this year, I think he's ready to move on," he said. "Twenty-six or 27 is late in life to learn to drive in Formula One. Pure talent alone won't nudge Michael Schumacher aside."

Montoya has always said he will honor his contract, while his team boss Chip Ganassi has declined to discuss the situation.