Team owner Eddie Jordan has admitted that he blocked WilliamsF1's bid to run his driver, Nick Heidfeld, during last week's test at Jerez.

The Grove outfit had apparently intended running a 'shoot out' between its own test driver Antonio Pizzonia and former F3000 Champion, Heidfeld.

Talking to Autosport magazine, Jordan has revealed that he blocked the move, and has no regrets.

"Williams approached us and asked whether I would release Nick to test for them in Jerez," said the Irishman. "I was prepared to release him if this test was intended to give him the chance to prove himself deserving of a race drive there in 2005. I have been working for some time to help him get that race seat next year.

"However, they told me it was a shoot-out between Nick and Antonio Pizzonia for a race drive in Hockenheim this year. The quickest driver would race in Hockenheim, Hungary and Belgium, as they believe Ralf will be back in Monza. They said they would negotiate with me on Friday after the test, after they had seen him drive.

"It's not Jordan's problem that Williams are losing both their drivers this year and have employed two test drivers that they don't want to use in the races," he added. "I have always said that I want to help Nick get a top drive and I will stay true to my word.

"However, I also have to protect the interests of Jordan. If one of our drivers were to test elsewhere, Jordan would have had 24 hours to find a new driver and test him for three days with all the costs that involved so all I asked Williams for was for those costs to be covered.

"I never sought to make a profit from this, only to cover the losses we would have to repay for example for extra engine mileage with a new driver."