DENNIS DENIES IRVINE OFFER.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis has denied that he ever offered Eddie Irvine a place in the Woking team, and advised the Irishman to stick to the truth when recounting his side of the story.

Speaking at the FIA press conference immediately after todays qualifying session for the Australian GP, Dennis admitted that the pair had met and discussed terms for the season, but ruled out speculation that a deal had been struck.

Eddies a colourful character, but he shouldnt try to re-write history, he said, Yes, we met and, yes, we talked but we, as a grand prix team, do a very detailed analysis of all the available drivers. To set the record straight, he was very keen to drive for us - as anyone would be - but the reason we stayed the way we are is that we decided Mika [Hakkinen] and David [Coulthard] were the best drivers available to us at the time.

At no stage was money discussed [with Irvine], and it is unacceptable to me to see things in print which suggest that Eddie Irvine was, in any way, dictating the terms to us.

Irvine had previously suggested that he turned down a drive with McLaren because the team was unable to meet his salary demands.