• Monaco Grand Prix

Trulli apologises for Chandhok shunt

The remains of the Lotus and HRT © Getty Images

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• Race:
• Monaco Grand Prix

• Drivers:
• Karun Chandhok
• |
• Jarno Trulli

• Teams:
• HRT
• |
• Team Lotus

Jarno Trulli has apologised to Karun Chandhok after taking him out the Monaco Grand Prix within seven laps of the chequered flag.

Trulli was behind Chandhok after a slow pit stop, and once he reeled him in, he attempted to pass up the inside of La Rascasse. Chandkok, unaware of Trulli attempting a move from such a long way back, took the corner as usual and the pair banged wheels. The impact saw Trulli's Lotus end up on top of Chandhok's HRT, with just the roll-hoop protecting the Indian driver's head.

After the race Chandhok said: "I am extremely frustrated by the outcome of the race. Jarno hit me out of nowhere but he has apologised for the incident. We were looking good to finish in thirteenth position but we are still the best of the new teams. It has been my strongest race of the season. We had a good start and managed to jump both Di Grassi and Trulli during the pitstop. After that I was catching Senna until he retired, and was cruising to the end. This is a big disappointment for the whole team - as this would have classified us in tenth position. It is hard to take for the team and me, however we can be happy with our performance today."

Trulli admitted to the mistake and added: "I was stuck behind the HRTs and trying to find room to overtake - in the last lap Karun seemed slow through the second and third sector, and I'd seen he was leaving room at Rascasse, so I tried to get through but we touched and that was that - the end of the race. It was one of those things - a racing incident, but I still feel like we're going in the right direction as a team, and I want to put the bad luck behind me when we get back on track in Turkey."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.