Honda with Jordan longterm?

The German weekly newspaper, Focus Money, this week has an article which suggests that Europe's largest carmaker, Volkswagen, is considering a foray into Formula One and has targeted Jordan as the team to partner with.

The magazine said that Bernd Pischetsrieder, the German motor giant’s chairman designate (and ex-BMW), had already held talks with the Silverstone-based Jordan team who finished, sixth, subject to appeal, in the 2001 constructor’s championship.
He has also been in touch with Peter Sauber, it appears.

Jordan is currently keeping as close as it can to its current engine supplier, Honda, but it is widely understood that the manufacturer, which also supplies BAR, is set to change direction and put all its energies into one team from 2003 on.

Both Jordan and BAR could feel they are the better positioned to retain the Japanese car giants favour.
Honda provide identical works engines to both, but additionally they have major input into the design and development of BAR’s chassis. With tobacco advertising to be banned in the next few years, it is also likely that BAR’s parent company, BAT, will look to sell their share and Honda have shown interest in this in the past.
Jordan, on the other hand, have been much the faster team in 2000, although reliability has let them down time and time again. They have also signed Takuma Sato for 2002 and 2003 – Sato honed his driving skills at Honda’s Suzuka driving school and he has been sponsored by Honda all his racing career.

Under the proposal reported in Focus, Volkswagen could become Jordan’s works engine supplier and aquire a stake in the team. The size of the stake has not been estimated, but a majority shareholding isn’t unlikely.

Despite the appearances that Jordan and Honda are getting on fine, the supply of a works engine is far too important to gamble with. As with any team boss, Eddie would feel much more comfortable with a backup plan in place, just in case Honda decide to buy BAR and drop the Irish team completely.

A Volkswagen outfit established from scratch has been ruled out in the short term – Toyota will take up the 12th team slot and fellow teams have voted against having more than 22 cars on the grid. The only other option for anyone wishing to enter F1 would be to buy a team lock, stock and barrel and Prost might be an obvious candidate here given their rumoured money troubles.

Money Focus suggests that if Pischetsrieder decides to enter the sport he will use Audi, the Volkswagen’s group’s prestige marque, as his branding, to allow direct competition against the other luxury German car giants, Mercedes and BMW.

Any major car maker who isn't currently in F1 is regularly rumoured to be 'on the verge of entering' the sport - the General Motors CEO attended the US Grand prix and therefore GM are reported to be 'on the verge of entering' the sport.
This is probably just another attempt to fill a page, but it keeps us interested in the off season!