Fuel rig dramas play havoc with both Hondas.

Honda missed out on a potentially healthy haul of points after both Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello were hit by fuelling rig dramas at the San Marino Grand Prix, leaving them with a disappointing seventh and tenth place result.

Starting second and third on the grid, Barrichello did not get a clean start, slipping to fifth place behind Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso, although Button got away far better and slotted into second place, comfortably keeping a consistent pace behind Michael Schumacher.

However, Barrichello was the first to be hit with bad luck when his fuelling rig failed to work, forcing the team to revert to Button's instead, something that pushed the Brazilian down the field and unable to make up the difference.

Although the three-stop strategy the team had adopted was not expected to produce a race victory challenge, Button at least was now on for a strong result, aided by the fact that Schumacher was slowing with tyre graining problems.

Coming in for his second stop though, Button reacted to the lollipop being raised, only to have it clattering down on his helmet straight away when his rig did not come off, ripping the nozzle off in the process and bringing several of the crew to the floor.

Fortunately not much fuel was spilt and no crew were injured, but the delay for Button destroyed his chances of getting into the Schumacher and Alonso tussle, dropping the Brit down to seventh place by the chequered flag, while the earlier delayed Barrichello finished down in tenth.

"There is no doubt that we missed out on the chance of a podium today as the car was quick and we had a good strategy," a despondent Button said. "I had a problem at the first pitstop with the right rear wheel going on and then in the second pitstop the lollipop was raised before the fuel hose was disconnected. Unfortunately when that happens, it takes all of the pit crew with it.

Button made sure not to blame Chief Mechanic Alistair Gibson though. "The Chief Mechanic has lifted the lollipop perfectly hundreds of times before and I know he'll make sure this never happens again. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt and I know the boys will be back giving it their all at the next race."

Barrichello was also frustrated that his qualifying pace did not give him the result he had hoped. "It was disappointing for us today at the end of what has been a strong weekend. I had a bad start and then lost a lot of time at my first pit stop.

"The nozzle failed and the team had to switch me to the other one. The pace of the car was okay, particularly on the first run, but it was a bit more difficult in the middle section. The lack of pace was due to the rear tyres locking; even though the brakes have got a lot better, the rears were locking on new tyres."