SEPTEMBER 21, 2005

BAR confirms 2006 driver lineup

BAR-Honda has confirmed that it will run Jenson Button alongside Rubens Barrichello for next season.

BAR-Honda has confirmed that it will run Jenson Button alongside Rubens Barrichello for next season. The announcement comes on the heels of news that Button has reached a financial settlement with WilliamsF1 to buy out his contract for next season.

Team Principal Nick Fry said, "We are delighted to be able to confirm our 2006 race driver line-up. We can now put the uncertainty of the past few months behind us and focus on the future, which looks very exciting indeed. We have made no secret of the fact that we wanted Jenson Button to remain with BAR-Honda for the next few years and that we considered Jenson and Rubens to be our dream line-up for 2006 and beyond."

The announcement leaves Japanese driver Takuma Sato out of the lineup. Fry went on, "Takuma's current contract reaches its conclusion at the end of 2005 but BAR-Honda is in discussions with Takuma and his management regarding possibilities for the future."

Button, who has yet to win a race in 97 starts, said, "I'm obviously delighted to confirm that I will be staying with BAR-Honda for the next few years. Since I joined the team in 2003 we've shared some important moments in my career and the team's history. There are many more goals for us to achieve together - not least of all winning the World Championship. I want to be at BAR-Honda to see that happen - and I believe that it will happen. I also have a new team-mate in Rubens Barrichello and I look forward to the two of us pushing each other, and working together to keep driving the team forward."