Grapevine: Trulli Laughs Off Car Collision

Italian Jarno Trulli and his Formula One rival Jenson Button were almost caught in a head-on car collision minutes after qualifying on Saturday on the front row for Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix.

Renault's Trulli, who swept to his first career pole position after a masterful lap around Monaco's tight street circuit, was being driven back to the paddock with BAR's Button when their vehicle met the course car coming around the blind Rascasse corner.

Although race officials denied there had been contact, witnesses said the cars, both Renaults, collided after slamming on the brakes. There was no damage.

"We were laughing (about it) because we probably didn't take enough risks on the track when we were running with the Formula One car and we took the biggest risk when we were driving a road car," said Trulli.

Button, sitting in the back, confessed he had not been wearing a seat belt. "The car came round the corner, waving a flag, and crashed right into us. We were going the wrong way on the circuit," he said.