Grapevine: Button drives Bathurst in F1 car

The Briton drove five laps of the Mount Panorama track at the wheel of an MP4-23 before handing over the car to Bathurst champion Craig Lowndes.

"These guys are crazy - they really are," said Button after his run.

"This place is fantastic. Television just doesn't do it justice. When I drove around earlier in a Mercedes road car it even felt fast. I think I'm going to have more fun in the V8 car than the F1 because you can actually use all the kerbs and get a good flow. I'm really excited about the challenge.

"It's the second time I'll be driving a V8 and I've got so many good memories of watching the V8s on TV and hopefully one day I get to drive one for real and it not just be four laps.

"I was holding on tight all the way. It takes everything out of you. It was the experience I've wanted to have for many years and I've finally done it. In a way it's probably not a good thing because it's made me more hungry to come back."

Lowndes added: "Imagining an F1 car around Bathurst initially seemed a bit crazy. But it's here and we're going to enjoy it for what it is. It will be a hell of an experience. I never thought in my lifetime we'd see this."