Single seater Champ Car racing on a banked oval circuit bounded by 5 foot high concrete walls was bound to attract a serious crowd of existing fans and curious newcomers.

These cars are faster than the current Formula 1 and their speed is staggering. The lap chart in the back of the printed programme went up to 215mph, but by the time practice had finally been allowed on the Saturday morning the fastest qualifiers were lapping at more than 215mph!

These cars cannot safely be run when there is any slight amount of water on the track and due to the rain from earlier in the week water was still seeping through the banking in what are known in these circles as "weepers". The circuit is dried by the use of old aeroplane jet engines mounted on the back of trucks which are driven slowly around the track with their exhausts pointed at the tarmac. The noise created by this is unlikely to endear them to the local populace. So there was no practice on Thursday or Friday.

The howl of the cars is something else altogether and it is difficult to describe the impression of over 200 cylinders at 11,000 rpm howling around the circuit at the same time. These 2.65 litre engines give about 900bhp on methanol fuel and are turbocharged up to a limit of 1.65 atmospheres.

With only a short practice session on Saturday from about midday it was always going to be a nail biting experience as lap times were constantly improved upon. When practice ended at 1.45pm the fastest lap was by Tony Kanaan in the Reynard/Honda at 215.397mph. This was going to be a very fast track!

Because of the limited practice the starting grid would be decided by Championship positions rather than practice times which was also going to add to the drivers difficulties. After practice the teams were allowed two hours to change their engines prior to the eight minute installation session to check out the cars. They then returned to the pits to have their fuel tanks topped up and the race commenced at 4.45 after parade laps behind the course car.

All this procedure is very unfamiliar to British race fans and there was a considerable air of expectation as the 26 cars were released into the race proper. The action was very soon coming as Junqueira and Tagaki spun coming out of turn 4 on the second lap. The sight of cars spinning at nearly 200mph with clouds of rubber smoke is something which sticks in ones mind and marvels that they survive. The course car was out at once and the race turned into a procession whilst the damaged cars were removed. The 10 leaders are allowed to use the pits during this period and can take the opportunity to change tyres and refuel if necessary. The speed at which pit stops are made is a determining factor in the outcome of the race.

These cars are set up with larger tyres on the outside of the circuit to aid their handling on the banking. The downside of this is that they are totally unstable if the brakes are applied! It is also a fine judgement as to when the tyres are up to their optimum operating temperature and this may well have been a contributory factor at the end of lap one. As the race progresses the leaders start to lap the back-markers and this is where additional driver skills are required. As the cars do not brake for the corners or when closing on slower cars the faster driver has to judge the point at which to lift off the throttle pedal and reapply it in order to pass. This would be easier if it were not for the momentum which is lost when backing off which is further reduced as the turbocharger slows down and boost is lost.

The course car was out again after Scott Dixon "lost it" on the 106th lap, there already having been retirements by Fittipaldi and Fernandez with mechanical problems. Time was starting to run out by now and the organisers rightly decided to reduce the race to 140 laps. The excitement was by no means over and it was one of the most spectacular last lap finishes on record.