Damon Hill: glad to be a Grand Marshal

Running in the opposite direction from the majority of US oval fixtures, Hill was sure many of the drivers would suffer neck pains before the end of this afternoon's 165-lap challenge.

"With the drivers going round clockwise, which they're not used to on American ovals, I can tell you it's going to be very tough on them," said Hill. "I tested round here in '92 for Williams, that was an active car and it was very, very tiring. There's no let-up, no straight long enough to give you a break from the g-loading on your body. I'm just glad to be a Grand Marshal and not a driver."

The compact Kent track will offer overtaking only for the brave, and the imaginative, according to the former F1 world champion. Hill, who knows the place like the back of his hand, had one piece of advice for the Champ Car drivers.

"There are some interesting lines into Paddock," he said. "It's one of those corners where a driver with imagination can get by in incredible ways. The corner has a kink in it offering two possible apexes and the first line you see into it is not necessarily the only one. It's possible to go up the inside and pass, even with two wheels on the grass."

Ex-Champ Car and Formula 1 star Mark Blundell believes the US racing fraternity has settled down to business as usual, despite the unfamiliar and somewhat cramped conditions in the Brands Hatch paddock.

"My children are over at the funfair at the moment, which is brilliant, not something you normally see at a British circuit. That's added value and I think CART have a very viable fixture here.

"I know from talking to friends in the pitlane that the teams are having a better time of it than they did last year. Certainly the drivers are overwhelmed, it's quite physical but they say it's an incredible track to drive a Champ Car round. Let's hope they come again next year."