SEPANG, Malaysia Heinz Harald Frentzen said on Friday that comments he made on his personal Website about traction control had been misunderstood by reporters and he could see why Michael Schumacher had accused him of bringing Formula One into disrepute.

The triple world champion made his accusation on Thursday after the Jordan driver had been reported as casting suspicion on the engines used by Ferrari and Sauber this season.

"After Melbourne, there was a misunderstanding about my quotes," Frentzen said in Malaysia ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix.

"I did not say they had an illegal system, but a legal system that reduces Wheelspin.

"I have clarified it on my home page and now people should read it carefully, or listen to my quotes properly."

He added that he hoped that in future Formula One would return to its original spirit and would, once again, be a contest for drivers without electronic aids.

Traction control and other electronic aids have been outlawed since the end of 1993, but the ruling International Automobile Federation (FIA) has agreed to allow the systems back from this year's Spanish Grand Prix in April.

One of the main reasons for the change in policy has been the FIA's admission that the systems are too complex to police.

Frentzen had said on his Website (www.frentzen.de) last week that he had noticed a phenomenon whenever he was behind a Ferrari-powered car -- Sauber also use the Italian engines -- over the last 18 races and was convinced Ferrari had some special engine software.

(Reuter)