"Indianapolis is a very different type of track and it’s really enjoyable to race at a circuit with so much history. In F1 we usually do things a bit differently, here it’s the same and we go the opposite way round the track to everyone else that uses it. The track has a very slow, smooth infield, with a high-speed straight down the brickyard section. It makes grip level at the infield very low because we run low downforce levels, meaning there have to be fairly big compromises in terms of set-up. With qualifying and the race now, where you can’t adjust the car in between, it makes it double-difficult. Normally you could get a better lap time by running slightly higher downforce, but in the race that would mean being overtaken down the straight - so we could see some excitement in qualifying with a few mistakes down to the cars running with such low downforce."

Despite a technical problem during this mornings test session in Indianapolis the Jordan Ford team performed relatively well out on the track and with three drivers running they gained some valuable data to help with the preparations for the race on Sunday. Swedish born F3000 champion Bjorn Wirdheim accompanied Giancarlo Fisichella and Ralph Firman on the track and between them they managed to clock up 107 laps of the 4.1km track.

It was an eventful practice session for the Jordan Ford team in Indianapolis hampered by changeable weather. Unfortunately both drivers experienced problems, Fisichella suffered an engine failure and Firman had an apparent electrical problem which caused the car to cut out which the team is currently investigating.

Giancarlo Fisichella and Ralph Firman qualified 12th and 17th in Friday's First Qualifying at the United States Grand Prix in a qualifying session which saw heavy rainfall arrive mid session.

Giancarlo Fisichella said, "I didn’t get enough laps in the morning, because I had a problem with the gearbox oil tank in testing and an engine blow-up during free practice. As I lost most of today’s track time there wasn’t enough time to do all the work we wanted on set-up. Considering that, qualifying was okay, the last part of the circuit was a bit damp when I went out. I hope we have these wet conditions again on Sunday."

Rubens Barrichello topped the timesheet in this morning's practice session at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with all drivers running a limited number of laps due to changing track conditions as the circuit dried out following very heavy rainfall overnight.

Fisichella and Firman were 17th and 18th as they struggled to find a good level of grip and Fisichella also lost some time to a gearbox problem which demanded a swift gearbox change from the Jordan Ford mechanics.  

Giancarlo Fisichella and Ralph Firman will line up alongside each other in 17th and 18th positions on the grid for tomorrow’s United States Grand Prix, following a morning of set-up work disrupted by damp track conditions and a gearbox problem on Giancarlo Fisichella’s car.  Both drivers anticipate that their chance of achieving a competitive result in the race would be enhanced if recent showery weather conditions continue.

Giancarlo Fisichella scored two well-earned points for Jordan Ford in today’s United States Grand Prix, despite problems in both his pit stops and completing his final stint with twice the planned fuel load. Ralph Firman had a difficult race with several unscheduled pit stops for a wing replacement and tyre changes, and on lap 52 he touched a kerb and spun off the track.