ISTANBUL, May 11, 2008 (AFP) - Rubens Barrichello became the most experienced driver in Formula One history Sunday, but had little else to celebrate as a lack of pace in his Honda car condemned him to finish outside the points in the Turkish Grand Prix.

Brazilian Barrichello had to endure a disappointing race at Instabul Park as he started his 257th Grand Prix and ended up finishing in 14th position.

He said: "It was a frustrating race for us today. Unfortunately we did not have the pace to compete and overall I´m disappointed with the performance of the car.

"I suffered from understeer and traffic in my first stint so we stopped a little bit early to try and get me out into some space. From then on, it was an uneventful run to the end of the race.

"We have a lot of work to do over the next couple of tests to try to find some pace."

Barrichello has failed to score a point this year.

Before the race, the popular Sao Paulo-born driver had said he was setting his sights on making 300 starts.

His Turkish race was his 257th and enabled him to overhaul Italian Riccardo Patrese´s long-standing record of 256 Grands Prix.

"Honestly, it feels like I started yesterday, and I don´t know how," said Barrichello, who held a celebration party in the Istanbul paddock on Saturday night.

"In my first few years with Jordan, I thought F1 was so difficult - there were a lot of things to do and it wasn´t just the pleasure of driving, but it was fun.

"And I never thought I could get here with so much pleasure and so much ambition, and feeling like I want more.

"So I don´t know if I will get to 300, and I don´t know if I can reach 300, but I will try because a friend of mine used to say that ´racing was in my blood´, and I really feel that.

"It has been quite difficult in the last couple of years with everything that has been happening, but we know the tide is turning and we are going to get back to where we belong."

Barrichello was given a special cake by Honda and team principal Ross Brawn, who worked closely with him during their record-breaking years alongside German Michael Schumacher at Ferrari, paid tribute.

Brawn said: "Rubens is a wonderful driver, he is quick, very sensitive, very competitive and great at overtaking. We had some wonderful races where we picked the strategy on the basis that Rubens could always overtake -- which is a bit rare nowadays.

"We had a great, great period at Ferrari and I was sad to see him move on, but I am glad now he did move on because he is here."