Villeneuve attacks Montoya over 'blocking'

The Canadian's BAR-Honda was hit from behind by Montoya after overtaking the Colombian's Williams-BMW and Villeneuve claimed afterwards that his fellow CART champion was on a mission to block people - a charge strenuously denied by Montoya.

"I am upset because it must be the fifth or sixth time this year that he's blocked me - he's on a mission or something," said the 1997 champ, whose practice ended just a couple of laps after the incident when he crashed out. "I'll have a word with him.

"Normally when you get blocked - I've blocked some people also - you try to get out of the way and sometimes you don't make it but you still make an effort and give room to the other person. It seems that Juan, every time he sees someone in the mirror, he slows down and stays on the line purposely so I really don't know what kind of game he's trying to play."

Montoya countered the claims, saying: "I don't know about any mission. I looked in my mirror and he was there, so I moved over. But then at the next chicane I was behind him and at the exit he stamped on the brakes. I don't think I hit him really hard."

Villeneuve's British American Racing car was badly damaged after he crashed into the barriers after it suddenly snapped out of control at around 150mph going up the hill towards Pont de la Concorde on the track named after his late father Gilles. Villeneuve. He didn't discount the possibility that the impact with the Williams could have contributed to the breakage that caused his accident.

"Who can tell?" he said.

Villeneuve missed the entire second session after the car slewed along the track for around 150metres before ending up in the gravel with the monocoque beyond repair.

"I'm not sure (what happened)," said Villeneuve. "It looks like something failed on the car, but it's very difficult to know because then I hit the wall and other things broke. "It's very surprising. I was actually at the point where I was deciding to brake and I just came off the throttle and turned into the wall. We've got a new tub for tomorrow."

The incident was the latest in a succession of crashes Villeneuve has suffered on his home track since finishing second to then Williams team-mate Damon Hill on his F1 debut in Montreal in 1996.

"There's been one good year then every year after that has been very difficult result wise," added Villeneuve. "it would be good to change that, so people don't think it's a bad race for me."