Setting the scene for Australia
There are just a few more hours before the first official session of the season gets underway, and the excitement in Melbourne was very palpable. Edd Straw sets the scene for the long-awaited season-opening race
"When the green flag drops, the bullshit stops," goes an old racing expression. Other than having to replace the green flag with five vanishing red lights, that's exactly the feeling in Melbourne as at last, after two months of extrapolating testing data into an ultimately meaningless competitive order, the 2011 season is finally here.
Well, almost. For there was one more day of anticipation, media interviews, wind and rain to get out of the way before the proverb is fulfilled when the pitlane opens for practice shortly after midday tomorrow. There was time for plenty of talk; little surprise given that this weekend's race is one of the most eagerly-anticipated season-openers since, well, since last year!
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