Gran Premio Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos de Rodriguez
Track Length: 2.75 Miles
Date: Nov. 17, 2002
Broadcast: SPEED, 4 p.m. ET
Race Length: 73 laps for 200.75 miles
Track Length: 2.75-mile road course
2001 Winner: First-year event
Toyota's Best Finish: First-year event
Toyota's Best Qualifying: First-year event
Track Speed Records
Qualifying: First-year event
Race: First-year event
Manufacturer Points:
1. Toyota - 311
2. Honda - 272
3. Ford - 247
What to look for at Mexico City:
TOYOTA AIMS FOR A THREE-PEAT IN MEXICO - Toyota will be seeking its third straight
victory on Mexican soil when the CART series heads to Mexico City for the Nov.
17 Gran Premio Mexico. Cristiano da Matta began both the 2001 and 2002 seasons
by winning on the road course in Monterrey, Mexico. Prior to the Monterrey season-opener
in 2001, CART had not raced in Mexico since 1981.
TOYOTA LOOKS TO CONTINUE ROAD COURSE DOMINANCE - Heading into the season finale
on the permanent road course in Mexico City, Toyota drivers have earned four
victories and four second-place finishes in the six road-course events run in
2002. In addition, Toyota drivers have been on the pole in four of the last
five road-course races while registering eight front-row starting positions
out of 10 possible.
DA MATTA MASTERS ROAD COURSES - In the six permanent road-course events this
season, Cristiano da Matta (Havoline Toyota) has won four and placed second
in a fifth. Even though da Matta has qualified on the front row in five of the
six events, only three (Laguna, Portland and Montreal) of his seven pole positions
have been on permanent road courses. Ironically, the only time he has not started
on the front row on a road course was at Monterrey, Mexico, in the season opener
when qualifying was slowed by rain.
OPEN AND SHUT - Should Cristiano da Matta be able to drive his Toyota to victory
in Mexico City, he would have started and finished each of the last two seasons
with wins. Only one other driver (Rick Mears in 1989) in CART history has been
able to both open and close a season with a victory.
DA MATTA'S PLACE IN HISTORY - With seven victories this season, Cristiano da
Matta can tie the all-time CART single-season record for wins in a season with
a victory in Mexico City. Michael Andretti (1991) and Al Unser Jr. (1994) currently
hold the record at eight. Da Matta's seven wins makes him one of just five drivers
to win that many in a season, joining Unser Jr., Andretti, Alex Zanardi (1998)
and Juan Montoya (1999). With two wins to close out the 2001 season, da Matta
has now won nine of the last 20 CART races. In 2002, da Matta leads the FedEx
Championship Series in virtually every statistical category including victories
(7), pole positions (7), laps led 619 (almost twice as many as any other driver)
and road-course points (180). So far this season, he has earned victories in
Monterrey, Mexico; Laguna Seca; Portland; Chicago; Toronto; Road America and
Miami.
AN ALL-TIME HIGH - Cristiano da Matta's 11 victories with Toyota power are
the highest of any driver to campaign a Toyota during the program's seven years.
Bruno Junqueira (2001-02) and Juan Montoya, both from Target Chip Ganassi Racing,
are second with three each.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING - In addition to winning the 2002 CART Manufacturer's
Championship, Toyota also leads all manufacturers in victories (9), poles (11),
front-row starts (19 of 36), laps led (1,089) and road-course points (227).
Toyota-powered drivers Cristiano da Matta and Bruno Junqueira are first and
second in the CART Drivers Championship.
JUNQUEIRA LOOKS TO CLINCH SECOND - Bruno Junqueira (Target Toyota) could provide
a Toyota one-two finish in the CART Driver's Championship simply by finishing
ahead of both Patrick Carpentier and Dario Franchitti. He leads Carpentier by
three points and Franchitti by 10 heading into the season finale. Junqueira
has enjoyed a break-out season with two wins, three poles, five front-row starting
positions and nine top-five finishes.
"Quotes"
Jim Aust, Toyota vice president of motorsports: "We're attempting to close
out the season on a high note. We've already won the Manufacturers Championship,
but it would be the icing on the cake to get a 10th win this season. It's also
extremely important for us to help Bruno take second in the championship and
close out with a Toyota one-two."
