Button samples V8 Supercar in Melbourne

Reigning Formula One world champion Jenson Button tried out some rather different high-speed machinery on Tuesday at Melbourne’s Albert Park when he traded cars with Australian V8 Supercar champion Jamie Whincup, during a special event ahead of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix.

The switch put McLaren’s Button behind the wheel of Whincup’s TeamVodafone Holden Commodore, while Whincup was let loose in the British Formula One team’s MP4-23.