The die-hard, standing-in-the-light-rain photogs who show up early Friday to stake out a prime spot. I must be more social next year ;) I usually chat up the pros on the other side of the fence for tips. The often step aside giving me a opp to shoot clearly through their fence cut-out.
Did you see Peter Windsor when you were there? He was standing right behind me, so I went over and met/chatted with him, and took his picture (which is now his "portrait" shot on his Wikipedia article).
I haven't seen him, but I doubt I would have recognized him in that crowd :-)
the pros at the other side of the fence were fine, but the marshals always seem to have made sure they block the view :-)
that area was very good, many different spots for great pictures - from higher up at the stands, from the corner behind the fence, but also a bit further up, behind some of the refreshment booths where this photo was taken from:
That's what I enjoy more of the official testing sessions, no stress to look at the cars well and find the best spots without fences in your view angle :) And the results are better every time, after recognizing the best spots! (More than once I climbed a tree for that HAHA). But now there are just too many grandstands, where you just sit and can take a look and find the best place for picturing ;)