Herbert confirms US intentions.

Johnny Herbert took time out at a Frankfurt press conference yesterday to announce his retirement from Formula One.

Although speculation had been rife in recent weeks that the likeable English driver was looking for a drive in either of America's premier single-seater categories, Herbert himself had yet to formally confirm his intentions. A visit to the Michigan 500 last weekend - courtesy of Jaguar owners Ford - merely heightened the rumours, however, and confirmation was finally forthcoming at the Jaguar media event yesterday evening.

''I have decided that I will go to the American CART series next year,'' Herbert revealed, ''Obviously I've got to sign a contract for a drive, but that's what I want to do next year. We will probably know what's going on within the next month.''

Should the three-time grand prix winner venture across the Atlantic as planned, he will link up with old friend Mark Blundell. The Crash.Net columnist admitted last week that a move to the States would be harder than Herbert expected, but also said that he believed his former race rival would thrive in the more relaxed atmosphere of CART. Whether a third Briton would still be in the series remains to be seen, however, as Dario Franchitti remains in the frame to replace Herbert at Jaguar next season.

Blundell also admitted that it was hard to see where Herbert would fit in to the current CART scene, as many teams had their drivers under contract for 2001. The most obvious openings would be at Team Green and Ganassi, should both Franchitti and Juan Montoya make the move to grands prix as expected, although Ganassi has already hinted that he may take Williams test driver Bruno Junqueira in a swap deal for Montoya.

Herbert's Ford connections, which he said he hoped may pay off in the move to America, suggest a move to either Newman-Haas, Players Forsythe, Patrick Racing or Team Rahal, but all four have seemingly settled line-ups. Other Ford users include Dale Coyne, but it is unlikely that Herbert would want to join a team renowned for its plucky attitude to being a backmarker in one of the most open series in world motorsport.

Of the other alternatives, ex-pat Derrick Walker currently only runs one car, although he has interests in the rival IRL, while Mo Nunn is expected to expand to two machines in 2001, ostensibly with the returning Alex Zanardi, despite the Italian being connected to both Ganassi and Team Green in recent weeks. John Della Penna also runs a single entry, but is known to be keen on promoting South American talent.

Herbert insists that one of the major reasons behind a switch to America is his desire to add the Indianapolis 500 to his grand prix and Le Mans success. Of the current CART line-up only Walker and Ganassi entered cars in the event this season, although others, including Penske, Rahal and Patrick, have all expressed interest in competing in 2001.

For now, however, Herbert has said that he will concentrate on finishing his final Formula One season in style, attempting to gain as many points for Jaguar as possible over the remaining races.

''Finishing seventh in Austria was better than we have achieved in the last few races,'' he said, ''but it still means nil points. My mission now is to carry the momentum from that race and to start scoring points for the team.''