Yoong admits Forsythe offer, but talks continue.

Although the Player's-backed squad has finalised a two-car line-up involving Patrick Carpentier and Paul Tracy for 2003, F1 refugee Alex Yoong reveals that he has received an alternative offer from Forsythe Racing for next season's CART series.

Team Player's is just one part of the larger Forsythe organisation, and officially announced its 2003 line-up earlier this week, apparently ending speculation that it would field a third car for either Yoong or previous incumbent Alex Tagliani. However, word has it that Yoong's offer is not dependent on Player's finance and that the Malaysian would run either as a third car in different livery, or in a separate two-car Forsythe team.

"We have indeed received an offer from the Forsythe Racing team, but the talks between my manager, Rick Gorne, and Forsythe continue - along with those with the other teams which have also made offers." Yoong explained.

Team Player's, jointly owned by tobacco company Player's Ltd and industrialist Gerald Forsythe, has traditionally run Canadian drivers in the past ten CART seasons, but is restricted in its attempts to field more than two player's-branded cars by Canadian law.

Yoong is currently prevented from signing a US deal as F1 employer Minardi has yet to officially release him from his contract. However, with Yoong being able to attract possible sponsors for an American campaign, there is no guarantee that Minardi will not exercise its option on him to race in F1 next year. The option is due to expire in a little more than a week's time.