Grapevine: Montoya Shocked Police in Speeding Offence

Juan Pablo Montoya has revealed that he shocked a French policeman when he was stopped for speeding last weekend - because he had enough cash on him to pay the fine.

The Williams-BMW driver was caught doing 200 km/h between Le Muy and Frejus on the French Riviera and was told he would have to pay a heavy fine and produce his licence after being caught 70km/h over the speed limit. But the Colombian, who lives in Monaco, said that he shocked the policeman who stopped him by producing enough Euro notes to pay the fine.

"He was on a ramp on a bike when I saw him and down he came after me," Montoya said. "He told me it was going to be expensive, so I asked him how much, opened my wallet and paid him. I think he was impressed that I had that much money - I'd just been to the cashpoint! He told me how much it was going to be and I paid him but then he told me it was more so I paid him."

Montoya said that his wife Connie had pleaded with him to slow down travelling on the motorway, but he added that he handed over the keys and allowed her to drive after being caught by the policeman.

"Who doesn't go at 200 clicks on those motorways?" he added. "I tell you, that car does 240kph no problem. I was taking it easy. Connie and I had been chatting and she told me to go steady because there might be police about so I was only doing 200km/h. Anyway, after I paid the policeman, I just handed over to Connie and told her to drive."