I loved Heinz - didn't want to sack him, says EJ.

Eddie Jordan has admitted that the only reason Heinz-Harald Frentzen was sacked in 2001, was because he had to sign Japan's Takuma Sato for the following season, in order to appease Honda, and keep their engines.

Speaking to Ireland's Sunday Independent newspaper, EJ added that he would have loved to have kept Frentzen, who won two races for the team in 1999 - when the team managed to finish third in the constructors' championship, their best ever placing.

"People didn't understand the Frentzen situation," he said. "At the time I couldn't let him renew the contract because my only way of holding onto the Honda engine was by giving Sato the drive.

"I loved Frentzen. He won more grands prix for Jordan than anyone else. But I had to protect the engine situation, that was absolutely crucial.

"I took it on the chin. Nobody except myself and one or two in Jordan realised why I had to do what I did. I was in a position I hated. I wanted to keep Frentzen but I couldn't."

Jordan, who sold his team to Alex Schnaider a month ago, added that he wouldn't be attending the season opening, Australian GP, as the team needs 'stand on its own two feet'.

"The worst thing would be to stay around and be completely sad about it," he added. "People say, 'oh, you'll be in Australia'. I won't. It's too far away and this team has to stand on its own two feet. They need time to get themselves together and they don't need the confusion of me being there and being seen to interfere."