Just got back

[touring fan]

Been at brands today.I'm not sure if any of this has been covered elsewhere but a few things from the day. Weather was lovely, blue skies and sun though it did get a bit chilly later on. The carpark isn't too muddy, just a bit soft in places so provided it doesn't rain all night it will be fine. The traffic lights on the roundabout coming off the M25 are doing a very odd thing of showing red and green at the same time.

Qualifying: Paul O'Neill set his lap time then promtly threw it into the gravel on paddock hill. Tom Chilton flipped his car, I see he's out of the races, hopefully he's not hurt too badly, they took him to the medical centre but I'm pretty sure I saw him walk from the ambulance. Phil bennnett had a bit of a coming together with a barwell car (Hines I think?), spun him around and damaged the body work on the front left corner.

From what I can tell the pitlane is a bit a worry cos it's very narrow with the extra wall and I think I heard Yvan say on toca radio that they weren't sure exactly how they were going to make their pit stops.

[cos]

How bad is the catch-fencing that they've erected for the CART? I've heard rumours that it ruins the circuit completely...

Anyway I'm off nice and early tomorrow morning, and my dad is even going to let me drive down there (so if any of you pass a Micra being driven erratically you'll know it's me!)

[touring fan]

The catch fencing isn't too bad, depends on what you're after I suppose. I stood on the exit of clearways and you can see some of the corner over the fencing and the rest through it. Not having a bridge on the way to druids improves the view to the hairpin too.
Judging by the amount of people there today (probably almost as many as you'd get for a BTCC race day), I'd say leave early because it's going to be very busy.
Incidently, incase anyone was wondering, the mobile podium has been fixed too :D

[Les]

Tom C has a sore neck otherwise he is fine - car was not.

Phil reckoned Luke Hines was slow and in the way but Luke says he wasn't. Happy 21st to Luke and a pole is a nice present.
Nice to see Phil out qualify David Leslie even though Dave is trying out the new engine.
Talking of engines poor Tom B has a new one this evening.

Weather was glorious - lot of people sunburnt so SUNTAN LOTION IS A MUST!

Paddock passes were a complete waste of time, got in the paddock using my octagon pass - and into the centre paddock but what happens tomorrow nobody knows. Got Fittipaldi, Andretti & Paul Tracy autographs.

Clios and FFord have all gone home tonight so a spacious paddock for tomorrow.

[touring fan]

Wish I'd known I could get into the paddock with a season pass! I did nearly walk straight into David Leslie whilst looking round the shops though so probably good that I didn't venture that far though. I can't tell if I'm suntanned (I always take suncream with me, it doubles up as a nice protection from windburn) or just covered in dust from the gravel trap at the moment.