Rockingham 500
{{Short description|Motor race held in Corby, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{good article}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox motor race
| Race title = Rockingham 500
| Logo =
| Track map = 150px
| Series long = CART FedEx Championship Series
| Series short = CART
| Venue = Rockingham Motor Speedway
| Location = Corby, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom
| Sponsor = Sure For Men (2002)
| First race = 2001
| Last race = 2002
| Previous names =Sure For Men Rockingham 500 (2002)
| Most wins driver =Gil de Ferran (1)
Dario Franchitti (1)
| Most wins team = Team Penske (1)
Team Green (1)
| Most wins manufacturer = Reynard (1)
Lola (1)
| Surface = Tarmac
| Length km = 2.380
| Turns = 4
| Record time =25.217
| Record driver =Jimmy Vasser
| Record year =2002
| Record class =
}}
The Rockingham 500 was an annual Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) motor race held in 2001 and 2002 at the Rockingham Motor Speedway oval track in Corby, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom. The race was the first major motor race in the United Kingdom to be held on an oval track with Champ cars. It was created in the hope of competing with the Formula One British Grand Prix, but CART had difficulty publicising the event.
The first race, in 2001, was marred by drainage issues and won by Team Penske's Gil de Ferran. It was last held the following year, when the track was hampered by a poor trading environment and inclement weather. For 2003, the race was relocated to Brands Hatch and renamed the London Champ Car Trophy. The race helped Rockingham Motor Speedway establish itself on the global motorsport scene, and it introduced a new type of racing to the UK.
History
During the construction of the Rockingham Motor Speedway in October 1999, former property developer Peter Davies revealed publicly a plan to hold a CART motor race there.{{cite web|title=Rockingham aims to host CART race|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/7379|work=Autosport|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=5 October 1999|access-date=7 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910164551/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/7379|archive-date=10 September 2016}} In July 2000, it was announced that Rockingham would hold a race for the 2001 season. The event would be Europe's second, following the German 500 at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz in Klettwitz, Germany.{{cite web|title=F1 Faces Competition from CART in Europe|url=http://www.atlasf1.com/news/2000/jul/report.php/id/2626/.html|work=Atlas F1|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=13 July 2000|access-date=7 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010215225241/http://www.atlasf1.com/news/2000/jul/report.php/id/2626/.html|archive-date=15 February 2001}} The event would take place on a four-turn {{convert|1.479|mi|km|adj=on}} oval track that has banking of up to 7.9 degrees.{{cite web|title=Rockingham|url=http://www.racingcircuits.info/europe/united-kingdom/rockingham.html#.V8adFfkrLIU|work=racingcircuits.info|access-date=31 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415101419/http://racingcircuits.info/europe/united-kingdom/rockingham.html|archive-date=15 April 2016}} The organisers signed a five-year contract with CART to hold the event.{{cite web|last=Stuart|first=Jay|title=England's Rockingham parts with CART|url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2002/12/20021202/International/Englands-Rockingham-Parts-With-CART.aspx|work=Sports Business Journal|date=2 December 2002|access-date=8 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908124830/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2002/12/20021202/International/Englands-Rockingham-Parts-With-CART.aspx|archive-date=8 September 2016}} Champ Cars would race in Europe for the first time since 1978, and on a British oval track for the first time. Several observers questioned CART's chances of staging a race in England, noting that previous similar schemes were unsuccessful.{{cite web|title=Oval racing comes to the UK!|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/10547|work=Autosport|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=13 July 2000|access-date=7 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910164643/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/10547|archive-date=10 September 2016}} It was started in the hope of competing with the British Grand Prix.{{cite web|title=Rockingham could drop CART race|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/21277|work=Autosport|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=18 November 2002|access-date=8 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910164738/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/21277|archive-date=10 September 2016}}
CART encountered difficulties in promoting the race early on. They were unable to adequately educate British motor racing fans about the series. The owners of Rockingham attempted to display an advertisement at the 2001 British Grand Prix, but the owner of Formula One's commercial rights, Bernie Ecclestone, cancelled the plan shortly before it was to take place. In response, a major marketing strategy was implemented.{{cite web|last=Cipolloni|first=Mark|title=Rockingham ready for CART. Is CART ready for Rockingham?|url=http://www.autoracing1.com/markc/2001/0808Rockingham.htm|work=AutoRacing1|date=8 August 2001|access-date=7 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010818035322/http://autoracing1.com/MarkC/2001/0808Rockingham.htm|archive-date=18 August 2001}} The Michaelides & Bednash agency oversaw the advertising, which began in the printed press in August and included two television commercials and an official poster.{{Cite news|url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A77400866/GPS?sid=wikipedia|title=M&B unveils ads for Rockingham|last=White|first=Jeremy|date=10 August 2001|work=Campaign|page=6|url-access=subscription |access-date=22 September 2016|via=General OneFile}} The event was hampered by drainage issues on the new track, which forced the cancellation of the practise sessions. The starting order was determined by the drivers' points standings.{{cite news|last=Fogarty|first=Mark|agency=Associated Press|title=De Ferran breaks CART drought in soggy England|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/motor/cart/2001-09-22-england-win.htm|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Company|date=23 September 2001|access-date=5 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160906155453/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/motor/cart/2001-09-22-england-win.htm|archive-date=6 September 2016}} Its length was reduced from 210 to 140 laps, and Team Penske driver Gil de Ferran won after overtaking pole position starter Kenny Bräck on the final lap.{{cite news|date=23 September 2001|title=Gil de Ferran captures CART's Rockingham 500|work=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|agency=Associated Press|url=http://lubbockonline.com/stories/092301/mot_0923010083.shtml#.V83SePkrLIU|url-status=live|access-date=5 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160906150221/http://lubbockonline.com/stories/092301/mot_0923010083.shtml|archive-date=6 September 2016}} Most drivers praised the circuit but did not criticise the problems affecting it.{{cite web|last=Benson|first=Andrew|title=Circuit escapes censure|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/1558626.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=22 September 2001|access-date=6 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021229225858/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/1558626.stm|archive-date=29 December 2002}} Despite two days of practice and qualifying rounds being cancelled because of the drainage issues, 38,000 spectators watched the race.{{cite web|title=De Ferran Becomes Record-Tying 11th Different Winner With Pulse-Pounding First Victory of the Season at Rockingham 500|url=http://champcar.com/races01/18england/index.html|work=Champ Car|date=22 September 2001|access-date=5 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105211352/http://champcar.com/races01/18england/index.html|archive-date=5 January 2015}} The track later had an extra layer added along with a sealant to allow it to drain water.{{cite web|title=Rockingham boss promises improvements|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/20554|work=Autosport|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=12 September 2002|access-date=8 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908065409/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/20554|archive-date=8 September 2016}}
During the 2002 race preparations, it was announced that a provisional date for 2003 had been set at 4 May. The circuit's chief executive, David Grace, said it provided an opportunity to hold the event at the start of summer, giving motor racing fans "the ideal start" to the season. He noted that moving the dates did not increase the risk of bad weather because the track's meteorological data showed that the months of May and September were the driest of the year.{{cite web|title=One month to go to the 2002 Rockingham 500|url=http://www.crash.net/indycar/news/15994/1/one-month-to-go-to-the-2002-rockingham-500.html#ZXzLiMAe3Fz2UZOu.99|work=crash.net|date=12 August 2002|access-date=8 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908125329/http://www.crash.net/indycar/news/15994/1/one-month-to-go-to-the-2002-rockingham-500.html|archive-date=8 September 2016}} The 2002 event had better weather but fewer attendees. Dario Franchitti of Team Green won the race.{{Cite news|url=http://napavalleyregister.com/sports/franchitti-blazes-to-rockingham-title/article_9ac98d0c-47e8-5126-8739-e03c6d986680.html|title=Franchitti blazes to Rockingham 500 title|last=Wade|first=Stephen|date=15 September 2002|work=Napa Valley Register|agency=Associated Press|access-date=30 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160831051054/http://napavalleyregister.com/sports/franchitti-blazes-to-rockingham-title/article_9ac98d0c-47e8-5126-8739-e03c6d986680.html|archive-date=31 August 2016}} Dale Coyne Racing formed a "all-England" team called Team St. George with British American Racing Formula One test driver and ASCAR Days of Thunder series competitor Darren Manning in an attempt to promote the race.{{cite news|url=http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=105367&FS=INDYCAR|title=Manning named Team St. George Rockingham driver|date=6 September 2002|work=motorsport.com|access-date=5 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606080347/http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=105367&FS=INDYCAR|archive-date=6 June 2011}} Some journalists speculated that the race might not be held because of the cancellation of the German 500 due to financial difficulties.{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/2134660.stm|title=Rockingham gets green light|date=17 July 2002|website=BBC Sport|access-date=30 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031217084357/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/2134660.stm|archive-date=17 December 2003}} Rockingham renegotiated its sanctioning fee from $4.2 million to $2.8 million, claiming that the German 500's had harmed the event's reputation.{{cite book|last=E. Whitaker|first=Sigur|title=The Indy Car Wars: The 30-Year Fight for Control of American Open-Wheel Racing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2HnXCgAAQBAJ&q=Rockingham+CART+five+year+contract&pg=PA104|page=104|publisher=McFarland & Company|year=2015|isbn=978-0-7864-9832-1}}
Rockingham Motor Speedway CEO Ashley Power began talks with CART officials in November 2002, hoping to end the race's five-year contract early due to a poor trading environment and inclement weather. He also stated that the track would lose money, contradicting a prediction made by the track's former chairman Peter Middleton in January.{{cite news|title=Hands' Rockingham circuit races into problems|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2833846/Hands-Rockingham-circuit-races-into-problems.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=17 November 2002|access-date=8 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229031327/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2833846/Hands-Rockingham-circuit-races-into-problems.html|archive-date=29 February 2016}} This was due in part to the track financing Team St. George, though Rockingham sold sponsorship to recoup some of its losses. On November 25, it was announced that Rockingham Motor Speedway would not hold its scheduled 2003 race, but CART and track personnel stated their intention to look into holding similar events in the future.{{cite web|title=Rockingham Removed From 2003 Schedule|url=http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5285|publisher=Championship Auto Racing Teams|date=25 November 2002|access-date=8 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021212141512/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5285|archive-date=12 December 2002}} It was revealed that the track lacked the resources and time to create a marketing programme and find a new title sponsor. The postponement until 2004 would allow them to meet those targets.{{cite web|agency=Reuters|title=Rockingham gives up 2003 CART race|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/rockingham-gives-up-2003-cart-race.aspx?pageID=438&n=rockingham-gives-up-2003-cart-race-2002-11-27|work=Hurriyet Daily News|date=28 November 2002|access-date=8 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908125155/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/rockingham-gives-up-2003-cart-race.aspx?pageID=438&n=rockingham-gives-up-2003-cart-race-2002-11-27|archive-date=8 September 2016}} The race established Rockingham in world motor sport and provided a new attraction for British motor racing enthusiasts.{{cite web|title=No CART at Rockingham in 2003|url=http://www.crash.net/indycar/news/16839/1/no-cart-at-rockingham-in-2003.html|work=crash.net|date=25 November 2002|access-date=8 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908125806/http://www.crash.net/indycar/news/16839/1/no-cart-at-rockingham-in-2003.html|archive-date=8 September 2016}} For 2003, it was moved to the Brands Hatch Indy circuit and renamed the London Champ Car Trophy.{{cite news|last=Allsop|first=Derick|title=American spectacle fails to win over British fans|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/american-spectacle-fails-to-win-over-british-fans-103463.html|work=The Independent|date=5 May 2003|access-date=8 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908125037/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/american-spectacle-fails-to-win-over-british-fans-103463.html|archive-date=8 September 2016}}
Race winners
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Date ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Driver ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Team ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Chassis ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Engine ! scope="col" colspan="2" | Race Distance ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Race Time ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Average Speed ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Report ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | {{Tooltip|Ref|References}} |
| Laps
! Miles (km) |
|---|
| 2001
| 22 September | {{flagathlete|Gil de Ferran|BRA}} | Reynard | Honda |align="center"|140* |align="center"|207.06 (333.23) |align="center"|1:20:59 |align="center"|153.408 | Report |
| 2002
| 14 September | {{flagathlete|Dario Franchitti|GBR}} | Lola | Honda |align="center"|211 |align="center"|312.069 (502.226) |align="center"|1:58:44 |align="center"|157.682 | Report |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Portal bar|Sports|England|United Kingdom}}
{{coord|52.5150|N|0.6575|W|source:wikidata|display=title}}
{{Champ Car Races}}
Category:Auto races in the United Kingdom