Button Chooses Crash over Fourth Place

Button was defending his third place in the race when he bumped over the kerb at the final corner on lap 46 and bounced into the wall on the opposite side of the track, bringing out the safety car and ending his race.

But the Briton, who started the race from pole position, insisted: "It has been a disappointing end to what has been a very encouraging weekend, but I'd rather crash in third than finish fourth really.

"It was completely my mistake. I went pretty wide and I thought I've got to try and get round the corner. I hit the kerb pretty hard and I bounced across the circuit. I didn't hit the wall that hard but it ripped the tyre off."

Button was undone by a new tall kerb on the inside of the final corner, which he dismissed as harmless on the Thursday before the race, and admitted he could do nothing about the accident once he made the mistake.

"I was going to hit the wall as soon as I hit that kerb because I didn't have any wheels on the circuit," he said. "It jumped off the kerb and landed and I thought it was okay and then I lost all grip.

"Michael behind me was pushing me pretty hard and I should have gone across the green stuff but I thought if I did that I would have to let Michael pass and I didn't want to do that.

"To end the day with no points is frustrating but we have got 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."