Today's Brazilian Grand Prix promises to be a long hot affair, testing drivers and their cars to the limit, and for DHL Jordan Honda it's likely to be a particularly tough afternoon as the drivers start from 14th and 19th positions on the grid.  Giancarlo Fisichella has slight cause for optimism, however, for he qualified 18th for Benetton last year and scored a single championship point with a solid drive into 6th position.

For Takuma Sato, however, driving in his first Brazilian Grand Prix, the race will realistically provide him with an extended opportunity to build his experience, for with 18 cars in front of him the prospect of Championship points is slim.

Speaking at a Deutsche Post World Net/DHL dinner last night Taku was in top form.  "My plan is to follow Giancarlo because he is a very good driver and I need to keep learning," he said, before adding," but I don't plan to follow him quite as closely as in Malaysia two weeks ago - sorry about that."

One thing which may play into Jordan's hands is reliability, the cars having performed faultlessly throughout the Malaysian weekend, the subsequent test and again this weekend.  These high temperatures are going to be problematic for some, and a high rate of attrition is expected.

"We are looking at an ambient temperatures of around 32 degrees C in the race," said the team's Trevor Foster this morning," but the track temperature will be up around 45 degrees C, so it'll be a warm one."

The battle at the front is certain to feature a lively tussle between pole sitter Juan Pablo Montoya, team mate Ralf Schumacher and the Ferrari of Michael Schumacher which splits them on the grid.  McLaren look to be in slightly better shape here, though it seems unlikely that they can suddenly upset the dominant form of their main rivals.  Curiously off the pace, and appearing rather low key this weekend, is Rubens Barrichello who qualified eighth in his 2001 Ferrari.  The Brazilian meda and fans appear to have given up on Rubens and turned their support to Felipe Massa, with even former World Champion Nelson Piquet speaking out against Barrichello.  Massa has been taken to the hearts of the fans, and his popularity is evident.

Renault are the team most likely to produce an upset in the race, Jarno Trulli and Jensen Button lining up 6th and 7th and likely to race hard against McLaren, with a good chance of scoring a podium should any of the top three trip up.

With packed grandstands, the background drum beat of Brazilian samba music, and a baking track, a long afternoon of racing awaits.