Note on distortion and Bourgain ell₁ index

The relation between different notions measuring proximity to $\ell_1$ and distortability of a Banach space is studied. The main result states that a Banach space, whose all subspaces have Bourgain $\ell_1$ index greater than $\omega^\alpha$, $\alpha<\omega_1$, contains either an arbitrary distortable subspace or an $\ell_1^\alpha$-asymptotic subspace.