MOTOR SPORT/Formula One News: Eddie Jordan has said while Formula One's proposed changes could reinvigorate his team's chances of competing with the big hitters, he remains sceptical about whether the rules will ever be implemented in the form revealed last week, writes Justin Hynes in Barcelona

"Generally speaking it's positive," he said in Barcelona, where his team is preparing for tomorrow's Spanish Grand Prix. "What I need is for the cars to be closer together, for the playing field to be levelled and for the sport to be made more financially equitable."

In a bid to satisfy Jordan's wishes, FIA president Max Mosley last week proposed a slew of changes designed to improve "the show" and reduce the financial burden on teams spending between $50 million and $200 million on an eight-month season.

Included in the changes were a drop in engine size from 3.0 litre V10s to 2.4 litre V8s, the banning of all electronic driver aids, a single-tyre manufacturer producing rubber to FIA specifications, the use of common car components, again to FIA specification, the allowing of teams to buy chassis from one another and easing the passage of new teams into Formula One.

Realising those objective will be complex. The issues raised by Mosley's ram-raid in the sport's regulation, while accepted in principle by the teams, remain to be ratified.

"First, while the meeting was generally positive, it was really for the team principals to bring back to their company directors the changes and then to formulate an opinion on them and then to go back to the FIA to talk them through again," said Jordan. "There will be a lot of talking to do yet."

In the run-up to Tuesday's meeting, the internal power struggle revolved around the major, manufacture-based teams' demand for greater control of the sport and greater cut of the profits after the 2007 season. With Ferrari swayed to the FIA's side early last week, and with the small teams serried behind Mosley after the leaking of a document detailing the less-than-equitable division of the spoils under the manufacturers' threatened breakaway series, the remaining opposing forces had no option but to accede to the FIA's wishes for 2008.

In the end, the collapse was total and many of the changes are planned for 2006, but as the dust settles, the teams will re-establish their equilibrium and will again attempt to protect whatever competitive advantages are left to them.

Indeed, yesterday tyre producer Michelin was the first to react, saying it was dismayed with the one-tyre manufacturer proposal and wished to meet the FIA to discuss alternatives. Even if the FIA presses ahead, Michelin could use its six client teams as leverage against the four Bridgestone teams and war would again ensue. Other items on last Tuesday's agenda will get a similarly rough passage, says Jordan.

"The engine thing?" he said. "I can't see it happening. There's no guarantee it will cut costs and they have already invested billions on these ones. To develop new ones will be expensive and doesn't offer them much in return.

"To be honest, that would suit me too. It will make it easier for us to get a supply of decent, reliable engines. So that's one (change) that won't happen, I think."

But Jordan admitted while there will be "a long fight" over many of the proposals, others will be implemented and will have an effect on cost reduction and the sport's competitiveness.

"Common ECUs, will, I believe, come in in 2006," he said. "That wasn't open to question really. It was an ultimatum from Max. And with that it would be possible to control the cars' speed if there are concerns over the current engines, how fast the cars go and safety. That will bring us closer together. Likewise I think a single tyre manufacturer building to spec, will be good. It will eliminate 70 to 80 per cent of a team's testing and that's a massive financial saving."

There are other aspects Jordan is less keen on, particularly Mosley's intention to invite more teams into the sport.

"I have no real problem with new teams," said Jordan. "But there are several concerns. The first would be that tobacco sponsorship of Formula One is going to end in 2006 and when that happens the void is going to be very difficult for the teams already in Formula One to fill. If there are a host of new teams in the sport, everyone will be scrambling for the same sponsors.

"Also there is the question of dropping the bond," he added, in reference to the multi-million dollar fee new teams currently have to pay the FIA to encourage them to stay in the sport. "By dropping the bond, there would be no real incentive for teams to stay."

Jenson Button confirmed BAR's Barcelona dominance yesterday, setting the fastest time in free practice ahead of today's qualifying session. The Briton heralded BAR's ascent to the front of the grid in pre-season testing at the Circuit de Catalunya when he shattered the track's lap record. Since then he has finished on the podium at three of the first four races and was expected to repeat BAR's good Barcelona form this weekend.

Button was followed on the timesheet by BAR test driver Anthony Davidson with Toyota tester Ricardo Zonta third and Williams's Ralf Schumacher fourth.

Michael Schumacher ended the day in seventh place, seven-tenths off Button's time, but the world champion, who was quicker by three tenths than the Englishman in the morning session, will surely be in contention for a 59th pole position this afternoon.

Test driver Timo Glock was quickest of the Jordans in 15th place, ahead of race drivers Nick Heidfeld in 20th and Giorgio Pantano in 21st.