Barrichello says suspension break cost podium

The Brazilian pitted after running off the track, believing it was related to the tyres. But when the handling did not improve with a new set of tyres, he drove into his garage and retired.

"I had a problem with the rear suspension," he said. "It is a great shame because we were looking good for the race. Unfortunately, it (suspension) let go.

"I originally thought it was a puncture on the tyre, so I came into the pits for another set of tyres. But it wasn't that because when I went out again, the problem obviously had not been solved and I had to come into the pits again.

"I think it was the suspension failure that made me go into the gravel trap too," he added. "When I braked, the car went completely straight. There was nothing I could do."

"I'm disappointed because the way things were going I was sure to finish on the podium."

Barrichello also reported that he found no serious problems with the new driver gizmos in his car, although they were not necessarily to his liking.

"It went okay," he said. "But I still think the race would have been more fun without it."

Barrichello is still third in the driver's championship with 14 points, while David Coulthard has 28 and Michael Schumacher 36.