Button: Indy Retirement Worst Feeling Ever

Briton Jenson Button described his retirement from the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis as the "worst feeling" of his motor racing career after the chance of a maiden podium finish went begging.

BAR-Honda driver Button led a Grand Prix for the first time after calculating his pit-stop perfectly as heavy rain fell before he was finally overhauled by reigning World Champion Michael Schumacher on lap 38.

His chances of finally grabbing a podium in his fourth season in Formula One looked good as he ran second, but Button was left devastated after being forced to park his car at the side of the pitlane following engine problems on lap 42.

"I don't know what I want to do at the moment, but it is probably the worst feeling I've had in racing," said Button, who has finished fourth on four occasions in his career. "When things are going well and you suddenly have a problem like that it's a nightmare. It's four years now and we still haven't had a podium."

When asked if leading a race for the first time was any consolation, a dejected Button added: "It is not really, you've got to be there at the end."