Sato bites back at Massa

BAR-Honda's Takuma Sato has hit back at Sauber's Felipe Massa, who blamed the Japanese driver for their collision in the second free practice session at Indianapolis on Friday

Sato lost much of the session with suspension damage after the pair collided at Turn 1. Massa was able to rejoin after repair work was carried out, but Sato held him responsible for the clash, which he labelled "unnecessary".

"In Turn 11, the corner before the banking area, I think Massa locked up the front tyres and ran wide on the circuit," explained Sato. "Then when he came back, between us, there was a big speed difference, so I think I caught him up fairly rapidly into the banking area. I was being towed [along], and I saw a couple of the blue flags waving, and I thought, naturally, I would go into Turn 1 as if I'm overtaking him.

"It was a totally unnecessary movement, and unfortunately, we both touched. To me, it was really unbelievable."

Massa countered: "I watched him in the mirrors in the straight, and he was really far away from me. Just before I turned in, I watched the mirrors, I'm turning, he was not there and then he just hit me! I think he was really optimistic."