By Phil Huff
June 3 2005

Anthony Davidson has been offered, and turned down, a drive in the Champ Car World Series with race winning outfit Newman-Haas after their existing driver Bruno Junqueira broke his back in the Indianapolis 500. Despite being offered a race winning package, Anthony declined the offer to remain as third driver at BAR Honda, under the belief that he will take over from Jenson Button should he move to Williams in 2006.

"I got approached by Newman-Haas to replace Bruno Junqueira," Anthony Davidson told ITV F1, "but I decided not to go forward with it because my main objective is race with BAR-Honda in Formula 1 next year."

Davidson was on standby during the 'Buttongate' saga last year, ready to take the seat should Button have managed to extricate himself from his BAR contract. More recently, Davidson stood in for an ill Takuma Sato in Malaysia, but retired after just two laps with engine failure.

A seat at BAR Honda will be available if Button does decide to leave, with Anthony currently favourite to take it. However, other drivers have been linked with the seat, most recently Rubens Barrichello.

Newman-Haas have hired Oriol Servia to replace Bruno Junqueira for the Champ Car race this weekend at the Milwaukee Mile.