Monte Carlo, Monaco ? Britain’s Jenson Button crashed during practice Saturday for the Monaco Grand Prix but was not injured.

He was removed from the track on a stretcher and missed the qualifying session. David Richards, leader of the BAR-Honda team, said he was optimistic Button can race today.

Button had X-rays at a hospital and is suffering from slight nausea, the team said.

Button’s car hit a side barrier coming out of the tunnel, one of the fastest parts of the street circuit where cars reach speeds of about 174 mph. Button lost control slid backward into another barrier.

The session was stopped for 20 minutes before resuming. David Coulthard had the fastest time in practice Saturday. Michael Schumacher has won the Monaco Grand Prix five times.

If Button is cleared to race, he would have to start the 78-lap race in the pit lane because he would not have had a qualifying time.

Button is 10th in the driver standings. He is coming off his best finish of the season, fourth in the Austrian Grand Prix two weeks ago.