So-called "weepers" -- spots where underground water bubbles through to the surface -- washed out practice Thursday and held up Friday's practice. The practice session was supposed to set the grid for Saturday's race.

Unlike Formula One racing, CART cars running at more than 200 mph on banked oval tracks cannot run on a damp surface.

Crews worked overnight and early Friday drilling holes into the surface of the 1½-mile oval, hoping to relieve underground pressure and speed drying. The problem spots were worse between turns two and three on the backstretch.

"A track inspection will be made and a decision will be made," track spokesman Steve Slater said. "The situation is we still have moisture in the track. What would straighten it up is a bit of sunshine."

The weather forecast for Friday and Saturday was favorable, although mild temperatures of 59 degrees slowed the drying at the just-opened circuit.

The track is built over a reclaimed iron-ore mine. Beneath is a heavy clay surface, which is also impeding drainage in an area that receives heavy annual rainfall.

The track, which opened this year, has been plagued by problems and is under its second management team.

"It is not a case of being scared," Scottish driver Dario Franchitti said. "We just cannot do it on a wet track. I know the people here have been working really hard, but this is something CART has to find a solution to."

Saturday's race was expected to draw 40,000 fans. Sunday has been set aside as a possible rain day.

CART's first-ever races in Europe have been plagued by bad luck.

The days leading up to last Saturday's American Memorial 500 in Germany -- originally called the German 500 -- were thrown into chaos by last week's terrorist attacks on the United States. CART's traveling party of 1,500 is believed to be the largest group of Americans traveling together abroad.

Saturday's race in Germany drew a near sellout of 87,600, but was marred by a terrible crash 12 laps from the end. Alex Zanardi's car was shredded when Alex Tagliani collided with him at 200 mph.

The crash cost Zanardi both of his legs during emergency surgery at a Berlin trauma clinic.

The 34-year-old Italian, racing for the Mo Nunn team, was brought out of an induced coma on Thursday, and his condition reported as "encouraging."

Much of CART's traveling party simply wants to get home.

"I think I've got the same attitude as most of the guys do," said Ken Szymanski, a Manhattan resident who works in the pits changing tires for Newman-Haas Racing and has a second job as a flight attendant with American Airlines.

"We want to see our loved ones and get back home. I'm going back to my city that took a big hit, and my other job at American Airlines, which also took a big hit.

"Without a doubt, most of us wanted to go home a week ago. The big point is we're away from reality in the paddock. The real world is back home. In the paddock, it can feel surreal watching it on the television."

American Memo Gidley, who drives for Chip Ganassi and lives in Indianapolis, is single and described him family "as the racing team I've here with. But some of the other guys with wives and children, you know they want to get back.