Inches of rain fell throughout the day and hadn’t let up by evening, when organizers announced that the session was cancelled, because even if the rain were to stop, there would no longer be enough light on the track.
Fans sat through the rain from early in the morning, hoping to see morning practice and qualifying in the afternoon. Despite their enthusiastic persistence, the fans were not rewarded: only two drivers, Jaime Alguersuari and Timo Glock, turned timed laps in practice. The rest of the filed stayed in the garages all day.
Qualifying will take place before the race, if the weather cooperates. If conditions make qualifying impossible, cars will line up on the starting grid according to car numbers.
This is not as arbitrary as it sounds, as car numbers are awarded according to Constructors’ Championship points from the previous season, except for numbers One and Two, which are awarded to the Drivers’ Champion and teammate.
Under those circumstances, McLaren would start first and second, followed by the Mercedes of Schumacher and Rosberg, then the Red Bulls, then the Ferraris.
The race is still scheduled to begin at 2 a.m. EDT on Sunday, October 10, with coverage in the U.S. on SPEED-TV starting a half-hour before.
