Drivers take to track behind pace car

The drivers were due to start today's practice session at 0930 BST this morning (Thursday), but it was delayed by overnight rain. The session was put back to 1500, but track conditions on the Northamptonshire oval have still not been given the all-clear.

The entire field completed five laps behind the pace car driven by CART's chief steward Chris Kneifel and has now re-grouped to take a decision on whether practice proper will go ahead.

Proceedings are being delayed by 'weepers' - water which has been trapped in the asphalt and is released as the track dries - on the exit of Turns one and three.

"There's a couple of seepers, they're something you get with a new track," said reigning CART champion Gil de Ferran. "It is just a case of waiting for them to dry or giving them as much help as you can. I don't think they'll be a problem."

The asphalt used in the UK is thought to be more porous than that used in America and is therefore likely to absorb more water. Tyre supplier Firestone is known to have brought a harder compound tyre to account for this.