Montoya Apologies to Coulthard

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya completed a hat-trick of misfortune when he and Briton David Coulthard collided at the European Formula One Grand Prix.

For the third race in a row, the Williams driver failed to finish after starting on pole position. In Monaco and Canada, his car's BMW engine let him down. Montoya was running in fourth place and being harried by Coulthard's McLaren when the Scot made his move at the end of the pit straight with 27 of the 60 laps completed.

Coulthard tried to overtake on the outside into the first corner and Montoya appeared to clip the kerb under braking. The Williams swung around, hitting the McLaren's front right wheel.

"At the start I lost the lead to Ralf who passed me at the first hairpin," said Montoya. "I didn't try to protect my position and risk sending the two of us out of the race. Then I was struggling massively with the handling of my car. The car was almost undriveable but I still had some laps to go before my pit-stop.

"Eventually I couldn't help spinning coming into the first corner and I unfortunately hit Coulthard who was close behind me, putting an early end to our race. When I came back to the paddock I apologised to David."

Montoya had been level second in the Championship with teammate Ralf Schumacher and the accident put paid to him reducing the 43 point-lead enjoyed by Ferrari's Michael Schumacher. It also ended Coulthard's hopes of leapfrogging the Colombian into second place in the Championship.