NUERBURGRING, Germany, July 22 - McLaren's Fernando Alonso apologised to Ferrari's Felipe Massa for an angry exchange after a wheel-banging finish to Sunday's European Grand Prix.

Massa, leading Sunday's chaotic race after his final pitstop, did his best to hold off Alonso on vibrating tyres but the Spaniard muscled his way past on the 56th of 60 laps with the cars touching.

Television showed both men having words as they waited to step on the podium, with runner-up Massa turning away from the triumphant double world champion who grinned and raised both thumbs to the camera.

The title rivals have previous history between them, dating back to last year's Italian Grand Prix when Spaniard Alonso felt unfairly penalised for impeding the Brazilian in qualifying for Ferrari's home race.

They also clashed after this year's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona where Alonso questioned Massa's driving after a first-corner collision ended his hopes of winning at home.

"I was really surprised when he came to say that I did that on purpose," said Massa of the latest incident on a slippery Nuerburgring circuit.

"I would never do something like that on purpose. Like I said in Barcelona, it was normal, here was normal and it's going to be like that. So if he was a little bit unhappy, it's not my problem."

Alonso refused to fuel the latest spat and declared the episode closed.

"We touched each other two times (on the track) and I apologise to him because I was so stressed when I finished the race, because we nearly didn't finish the race," he said.

"I apologise if I said anything to him, because it's motor racing and it's a fight. We finished the race, so I don't want to talk any more about this and I want to enjoy the win."

Massa accepted his words: "I don't have anything against anybody, I just do my race and I follow the rules of the sport, that's all," he said.

"If somebody tells me something I did was wrong and I didn't I will be unhappy. That is normal. But if he has apologised then that's fine, he knows he was not right after the race."

Alonso's win left him two points adrift of leader and team mate Lewis Hamilton. Massa moved up to third overall and a further nine points behind.