Herbert: Sepang shunt could cost CART place.

Despite assurances from his manager that a deal was on the table, Johnny Herbert is beginning to realise that his Champcar dream may have to be put on hold.

The 36-year old has had to watch as drive after drive disappeared from under his nose in recent months, and now faces a future either with a backmarking team or on the sidelines next year. This is not the scenario Herbert imagined when he announced his intention to quit F1 for the CART series midway through the year, and he is aggrieved that his dramatic grand prix exit may have got in the way of extending his career.

The former Jaguar driver ended his twelve-year stint in F1 by spearing off the road at the Malaysian Grand Prix, and suffering knee injuries in the resulting impact with the barriers. The accident, according to both driver and team, should never have occurred, but that is of little comfort to Herbert as he faces an uncertain couple of months.

"It was very disappointing to finish [my season] by flying off the track through no fault of my own, but because of a stress failure that should never have happened," he told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper, "If you make mistakes as a driver, you can accept it but, when you get into trouble because someone else got it wrong, it is very hard to take.

"It couldn't have come at a worse time and I was pretty annoyed. I didn't do anything wrong, and yet I was the guy who ended up on crutches. I could hardly have gone looking for a job in that conditions - it wouldn't have made much of an impression."

Although he was rumoured to have help from long-time employer Ford in looking for a Champcar seat, Herbert has so far missed out on openings with Patrick and Newman-Haas - who both switched from the Blue Oval to Toyota power for 2001 - Ganassi - which was already a Toyota customer - and Players Forsythe - which retained both current drivers.

With his options looking increasingly slim, Herbert continues to be linked to the second seat at Ford-powered Zakspeed, despite the German team's claims that it will sign a German driver to partner Bryan Herta. His other options include backmarkers such as Bettenhausen, and another rumoured German outfit that has yet to announce its plans for next year.

"I had so wanted to end my F1 career on a high note and then head for the States to clinch myself a place in Champcars," insists the unbowed Romford driver, "There is still a chance for me, and I have not given much thought to any alternatives because I am so eager and excited about competing in Champcars. I have no intention of leaving my ambitions unfulfilled."

Zakspeed is rumoured to be making an announcement regarding its second driver before the end of the year, but touring car star Marcel Tiemann is the hot tip to land the seat for 2001.

Although Herbert has been involved in a fair share of incidents over his career, he has already said that this has no effect on his decision to opt for the CART series and its infamous ovals.

"I'll probably be safer than I was in Formula One!" he was quoted as saying recently, "I honestly don't see there being a big problem with the ovals, the walls or the speed, although I've heard that people have said I must be crazy going over there - especially after what happened in Malaysia. But I might be safer in America because the speed and the regulations there will actually suit my driving. I drive to the limit of the car and not beyond."

It will be an anxious Christmas.....