Pitlane punch-up

The duo confronted each other in the pitlane at Motegi and some strong language was
exchanged as Ganassi tore Haas' trademark cigar from his mouth.

Haas was reacting to an incident in which Ganassi rookie Juan Pablo Montoya drove into Michael Andretti's Newman-Haas Ford, sending both cars into the retaining wall.

The drivers blamed each other, but Montoya was fined £3000 and put on probation by CART chief steward Wally Dallenbach. Ganassi and Haas made peace later.

'There's no problem,' he said, 'we just both got a bit hot at the time.'

The accident happened as Montoya came up to pass Andretti at turn one. The American was slower due to a heavy fuel load and the Colombian clipped Andretti's nosecone as he went by.

Andretti, who felt it was deliberate, was angered by Montoya's lack of apology.

'I'm not sure what disappoints me more,' he said. 'The move he pulled or the way he handled the situation afterwards.'

Montoya was condemned by other Champ Car drivers. 'He's got to realise we're not racing Formula 3 cars,' said Mauricio Gugelmin. 'This behaviour is reckless and out of the question.'

In the race Montoya impressed by running cleanly at the front until he retired with a fuel pick-up problem.