Villeneuve has won world titles in three different forms of racing

Villeneuve is in the final year of a five-year contract with BAR, but his estimated $20m (�12.25m) a year salary - second only to Michael Schumacher - prompted speculation that BAR could not afford to re-sign him.

But with no vacancies there are currently no open seats on the top teams, leaving Villeneuve's future in doubt.

"Absolutely nothing has been decided yet," said Craig Pollock, Villeneuve's manager and a shareholder at BAR.

"Jacques is currently in the top two or three open-wheel drivers in the world.

"He's won the Indy 500, he's won a Cart championship and he's won a world title. He's just 32-years-old and with the right equipment capable of winning another championship."

Villeneuve has had only one podium finish with the team and his BAR-Honda has been unreliable all season with a string of mechanical failures.

Pollock ruled out a return to the struggling Cart series, but said Villeneuve might listen to offers from Nascar teams.