Barrichello apologises for DC shunt.

Rubens Barrichello has taken the blame for the accident that forced both his Ferrari and the McLaren of David Coulthard into retirement during the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.

The Brazilian was making his way through the field when he chanced his arm with an opportunist move on Coulthard at the tight final chicane, but the two cars made contact, breaking front suspension components on both. Although both Barrichello and Coulthard made it back to the pits, neither car was able to continue, ending the Ferrari man's hopes of at least following his two recent victories with another trip to the podium.

"It was a shame," Barrichello sighed, "I think I caught him by surprise - he didn't see me, closed the door and we touched. It was a racing incident."

Having gridded only 15th as the result of both having to make his pre-qualifying run when the track was at its wettest, and then making a mistake - again at the chicane - on his final qualifying lap, Barrichello made up early ground before becoming embroiled in a battle involving big names like Jacques Villeneuve, Fernando Alonso, Juan Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen. Only when Montoya made a mistake was Barrichello able to make a break, but the Brazilian remained full of praise for his Ferrari crew.

"I was having a great race, the car was very good and I was doing excellent lap times," he said of his race prior to the collision with Coulthard, "In the early stages, I got stuck behind Montoya and Trulli, but then I was able to push very hard. The set-up was really good and the team did a fantastic job of finding the right solution in a rush."

Coulthard, meanwhile, had run towards the front all race, and was in his own battle for the podium at the point that Barrichello hit him.

"It goes without saying that I'm really disappointed with the end to my race," he said, "We were looking to score points, but I had a coming together with Rubens at the chicane whilst he was trying to pass me. I don't think anybody is to blame - it's just one of those things which happen when you are battling for positions. However, after my move on Ralf [Schumacher] in China, perhaps this was payback of sorts."