The Silverstone-based outfit reacted to comments made by rival team boss Paul Stoddart.

The Minardi chief said Irvine was taking the seat vacated by Japan's Takuma Sato, who has joined BAR as a test driver.

But a Jordan spokeswoman said: "We have not agreed anything with any driver regarding the number two seat at Jordan.

Massa is in the frame after being dropped by Sauber

"There are a number of conversations taking place but nothing has been finalised."

The second Jordan drive alongside Giancarlo Fisichella depends purely on finance - the team has admitted it is struggling to find the money to race in 2003.

It is believed that Jordan are in talks with cigarette company Benson & Hedges, their sponsor since 1996, about paying more money if they sign a British driver.

It is not yet known if B&H will go along with the deal, but if they do it could be worth as much as a reputed $15m (�9.4m) to the team.

That would put Irvine and rising British star Anthony Davidson, a test driver at BAR, at the top of Jordan's list.

However, if the B&H money is not forthcoming, it would be extremely unlikely that the team could afford to pay Irvine and he would be forced into retirement.

And unless Davidson could come up with his own budget, that would make Brazilians Felipe Massa and Enrique Bernoldi the front-runners for the drive.

Whoever wants the drive is expected to have to come up with at least �5m after Eddie Jordan's outfit lost their deal with main sponsors Deutsche Post.

Sato could not come up with the required funds and has opted to act as BAR'S test driver next season with the possibility of moving up to a race seat in 2004.

He is a protege of BAR's engine supplier, Honda, and would be in a strong position if he does a good back-up job next season.

Wilderness

If Sato is to be promoted in 2004, it would likely be at the expense of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve.

BAR will only consider re-signing the Canadian at the end of the forthcoming season if he takes a dramatic cut in salary from his current retainer of �12m.

And Villeneuve has said in the last week that he wants a competitive drive in 2004 after years in the wilderness with BAR, a team that was set up around him by his manager Craig Pollock.