Practice 1: New track, same result

Da Matta's best lap of 62.506 seconds narrowly edged Adrian Fernandez (62.693s) and Scott Dixon (62.742s).

There were a number of incidents during the opening session, starting when Dario Franchitti had a Honda engine expire before he had even completed installation laps on rain tyres. But the Scot rebounded to set the seventh fastest time (63.413 sec) in his spare car.

Franchitti was one of many drivers who were unimpressed with the bumpy nature of the street track.

"Jeremy McGrath and Ricky Carmichael would feel right at home here," he said.

Patrick Carpentier, who was 14th, also used a motocross metaphor. "This is the bumpiest track I've ever seen,' he said. "I might have to look at my contract, because there is a clause that says I can't race motocross."

Several drivers were also wary of Turn 5, an unusually wide hairpin. Christian Fittipaldi and Shinji Nakano collided there in practice, prompting the NASCAR-bound Brazilian to vent his anger by trying to drive Nakano slowly into the wall. Fittipaldi wound up fifth fastest.

Also having trouble was Paul Tracy, who tore the rear wing off his Team Green Lola-Honda after a spin at Turn 8.