Ralf and Barrichello Blame Each Other (Updated)

Ralf Schumacher said he was not to blame for causing a massive pile-up at the start of Sunday's Australian Grand Prix.

The German, who was also involved in an accident at last year's Australian Grand Prix that resulted in the death of a track marshal, ran his Williams into the rear of Rubens Barrichello's Ferrari seconds after the start of the season-opening race at Albert Park.

Schumacher was sent flying into the air, across the gravel trap and into a barrier, triggering a series of crashes behind that knocked eight cars out of the race, including Barrichello who had started on pole.

"It felt frightening, I can tell you," the 26-year-old Schumacher said. "Going airborne in an aircraft is nicer than in any Formula One car."

Schumacher told reporters after returning safely to the team's garage that the accident was not his fault because Barrichello had tried to prevent him from overtaking.

"I tried to go on the inside and he closed the door, then I tried to go on the outside and he closed the door again," Schumacher said.

"I tried to go back on the inside, he closed the door and braked at the same time, then he tried to brake into the first corner. It was a great start and it's a shame I did not make use of it."

None of the drivers were injured in the wreckage.

Barrichello denied the accident was his fault and called it "silly".

"If he wanted to overtake on the outside he should have moved a lot further, I didn't get in his way," the Brazilian said. "I just saw a part hitting my helmet and that's it, but it's just silly to see something like that...because we were going to be first and second out of the corner."

Jenson Button was among the other casualties of the first lap wreckage. The Briton said he was caught in the chaos behind.

"I just saw the Williams go up in the air, it just went straight over the Ferrari, then on the right hand side of me," Button said. "(German driver Nick) Heidfeld went straight down the grass and took about three or four out. It was a bit hectic really."