Top duo escape car collision

As the drivers were being ferried in a Renault Espace official car from the pit lane to the TV interviews, which involves driving the wrong way around the circuit, they suffered a minor collision with a course car, a Renault Megane.

There was some debate as to whether contact was actually made between the cars. Eye witnesses swear they heard contact, and there was certainly some healthy cheering from the Rascasse spectators, but official sources claim that heavy braking averted any impact.

Polesitter Trulli explained: "We were laughing because we probably didn't take enough risks on the track while we were running in our Formula 1 cars and we took the biggest risk when were driving in a road car. It was something unexpected. We were both surprised when this car was coming towards us. We knew, anyway, that Renault cars are very safe..."

Button admitted: "I actually didn't have my seatbelt on - bit naughty! I don't know, the car came around the corner waving a flag and crashed into us. We were going the wrong way around the circuit."

No-one was injured in the incident.