JULY 13, 2001

Hakkinen denies retirement

MIKA HAKKINEN says he is not retiring and says he is discussing terms of a new contract with McLaren for 2002 and beyond.

"There is no way I am quitting," Hakkinen said in a German newspaper on Thursday.

The talks with McLaren apparently center on the length of the contract with Hakkinen looking for two more years and McLaren wanting to sign him up for only one more season.

Hakkinen said he is still motivated by the idea of beating his career-long rival Michael Schumacher.