Positions when race stopped after lap 20 of 28:

1 V Rossi (Ita) Fiat Yamaha

2 N Hayden (US) Repsol Honda

3 J Lorenzo (Spn) Fiat Yamaha

4 C Stoner (Aus) Ducati

5 A Dovizioso (Ita) JiR Team Scot

6 B Spies (US) Rizla Suzuki

7 S Guintoli (Fr) Ducati

8 D Pedrosa (Sp) Repsol Honda

By Julian Shea

606: DEBATE Who will win at Indianapolis?

THE RACE IS OVER.

Common sense triumphs and the riders do not have to go back out to finish off the remaining laps. Valentino Rossi becomes the first MotoGP winner at Indianapolis Speedway, with Nicky Hayden second and Jorge Lorenzo third.

And anyone waiting for the 250cc race is in for disappointment as it looks like it will not be going ahead.

If the riders go back out - and it looks like they might - this will be madness. The airfence has almost been blown clear of the metal fencing round the perimeter of the track, and the flags are almost being snapped off the flagpoles.

Rossi's pit crew are keeping the warmers on his tyres and keeping the machinery ready just in case they're expected to go back out. In these conditions it would seem madness, but none of the riders are taking their leathers off and there is still no decision from race control.

Lap 20: ... it is now. Or is it? Real confusion here. The riders certainly seem to think it's all finished, and the Rossi garage are celebrating as if he's definitely the first MotoGP winner at Indianapolis.

Race Control has yet to confirm that the race is definitely finished - the rain is streaming down now, but technically speaking they could go back out and complete the remaining laps.

Lap 20:The Red Flag is out. They think it's all over... it might be now, but we're not sure just yet.

Lap 19: Jorge Lorenzo was three seconds faster than Hayden on that last lap so it looks like the American might have to settle for third spot on the podium at this rate - still, as it would be his first podium of the season, I'm sure he won't exactly be sulking about it.

"We're currently on lap 18 and Stoner's still rubber side down."
LUFCAddict, via 606

So much for J99JFM's prediction then!

Lap 18: There's a 2.5 second gap between Rossi and Hayden now - if the American was going to do anything, you think he would have done it by now. How's that for tempting fate?

Lap 17: It's increasingly windy - which has got to be a worry when there's a hurricane down the road. No sign of standing water on the track yet but the conditions are pretty grim, causing Rossi to have a major wobble. Maybe that has given Hayden fresh heart as he was the fastest man on the track for that lap.

Stoner's day could be about to get worse as wildcard rider Ben Spies is looking to get past him and relegate the world champion to sixth place.

Lap 15: How must Casey Stoner be feeling in fourth place? Make that fifth, as Dovizioso has just gone past him. A few months ago it all looked to be going swimmingly, but now he can just watch and think about what could have been.

Lap 13: It was just a matter of time - after half a race of valiant resistance, Hayden finally cracks as Rossi overtakes him on the inside of the left-hand turn at the end of the back strait, and puts the hammer down to make sure there is no way back for the American. Rossi said it was his favourite overtaking place on the track - he just showed why.

Lap 11: Wow - as suggested earlier, Ant West has managed to drag himself from the back of the grid to 10th place. Somebody like the rain, evidently.

Lap 10: Rossi's just recoded his fastest lap so far, but Hayden is refusing to be bowed by the fact the Doctor is breathing down his neck.

The former world champion has had a rotten run of form and luck recently, and is still on the mend after cracking a bone in his heel in the summer break. If he could hold on here, there would be few more popular winners.

Lap 8: Hayden is a big Indianapolis Colts fan, apparently, and has their horseshoe logo on his crash helmet. He seems to be inspired by the venue today, and you have to wonder what the Honda team bosses will think if he holds on to win - his move to Ducati is expected to be announced in the next couple of weeks. Nothing like signing off in style...

Lap 7: Rossi is like an animal stalking its prey, waiting for the time to pounce. He's cut well clear of Dovizioso in third and has the magnets on leader Hayden. Lorenzo has just passsed Dovizioso to take third place.

"What lap will Stoner bin it? I say lap 12."
J99JFM, via 606

Lap 6: Stoner has been quiet so far, but is closing the gap on Lorenzo in fourth place. No mistake from Rossi this time - he jumps in ahead of Dovizioso and makes apoint of not letting the youngster take his place back this time.

Lap 5: Rossi looks to be biding his time before taking second place from Dovizioso. I suppose having such a huge championship lead does give you a degree of confidence and less urgency than your rivals. Rossi temporarily slips into second place only for Dovizioso to sneak inside him and move back to second spot.

Lap 4: Hayden may be in the lead but Rossi is the fastest man on the track, passing Lorenzo to move into third place.

Lap 2: Jorge Lorenzo goes round the outside of Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi into third place. "Round the outside" is his nickname in Spain, apparently. In Spanish, of course. And the local fans who have waited in the rain have something to cheer as home favourite Nicky Hayden goes into the lead.

Lap 1: Stoner's off to a flyer - at the first corner, Rossi's back to fourth and good starts the Repsol Honda duo of Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden. But where did Andrea Dovizioso come from? He's made a lunge for the lead on lap one and got clear. Wow.

"We should have more races in the evening, got my feet up, telly on, all ready for a great race. COME ON JT!"
Darrell Allen, via text

1958: "Gentlemen, start your engines...." goes up the cry, and they do. Interestingly, Ant West, who is starting right at the back of the grid, was fastest in both wet practice sessions on Friday. So there could be some thrills and spills - literally - coming up.

1945: Evening everyone. The weather in Indianapolis has been shocking today, with the tail end of Hurricane Ike causing the curtailment of the 125cc race and the postponement of the 250cc race until after the main event.

But bang on cue, it looks like the elements have eased off a little bit and although there's a bit of spray on the circuit, it looks like things will be ready to get going on time at 2000 BST.

So, if the form book is anything to go by, it'll be Stoner against Rossi until the Aussie's old habits get the better of him once again, he pushes it too hard and flies off, and the Doctor makes it four wins on the trot. As if it's ever that straight forward....

So what are you thoughts and opinions on what we can expect today?

Get in touch via text and 606 and let's hope it's an entertaining race. And hopefully a good fight right until the finish, which is not how it's been for the last few races.