Overnight rain delays first practice

Saturday's race will be Britain's first ever Indy car race on an oval, but the English weather continues to pose the biggest threat to the event.

With drivers eager to get some running on the unfamiliar circuit, work began at 0500 BST this morning (Thursday) with jet blowers to dry the track. The first session was due to start at 0930 BST, but moisture trapped in the asphalt prevented the cars from running.

The shadow of the stands across the track at turns one and two also created problems for the drying process. However, the ASCAR support race stock cars have been sent out for a short practice session in order to further dry the track and get rid of any 'seepers' - trapped pockets of moisture which rise to the surface as the track dries.

The Champ Cars are scheduled to complete two and a half hours of running before 1730 BST this evening and the teams are currently on 15 minutes notice for when the session can start. If no running is completed today, then Saturday's qualifying session will be cancelled to make way for practice and the grid will be decided by championship position, as in Germany last weekend.

The weather is currently changeable with broken clouds and a strong wind which is helping to further dry the track.