Button Admits to Driving Error

BAR's roller-coaster season hit a new low after the high of Button's pole position, the Honda-powered team leaving Montreal still with no points from eight races after finishing last year as overall runners-up.

Briton Button hit the wall on the final corner before the pit straight on lap 48, an accident that briefly brought out the safety car and indirectly led to Juan Pablo Montoya's exclusion.

"It has been a disappointing end to what has been a very encouraging weekend," said Button. "I got onto the marbles in the hairpin, went a bit wide because the rear locked up and got the tyres dirty. When I got to the chicane, I had big understeer and hit the wall off the second kerb.

"It was completely my mistake and very frustrating because we were looking good. To end the day with no points is frustrating but we have to look at the positives from the weekend. We have made real progress and now have to work hard to make the most of that in Indy."

BAR's disappointing day was completed by Takuma Sato, who had all sorts of problems during the race. The Japanese driver was first hit by Jacques Villeneuve's Sauber, and then suffered a gearbox problem his team repaired despite losing over 20 laps.

Sato rejoined the race only to retire with a hydraulics problem on lap 41.

"It was an extremely disappointing result for all of us today, especially as we had looked good all weekend," said Sato. "We can take some positives from this weekend however so we look forward now and hope to do better in Indianapolis."