2002 United States Grand Prix Preview
Honda F1 Press Information PREVIEW United States Grand Prix, 27 - 29 September 2002 The US Grand Prix marks Honda’s third visit to the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway since its return to Formula One in 2000 – it’s an important race for Honda as America is now firmly established as the company’s biggest global market place. As elsewhere in the world, motor sport has played a major role in Honda’s success in the United States where its engine technology has dominated recent ChampCar series winning a total of ten CART Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ crowns between 1996 and 2001. Having achieved so much in CART, Honda is now looking ahead to exciting new challenges within the flourishing Indy Racing League series. Honda’s F1 heritage in North America dates right back to its maiden Grand Prix victory which came in 1965 when Richie Ginther won the Mexican Grand Prix. For good reason, the Californian is now a legendary figure in Honda’s glorious F1 history. Honda began its interests in North America six years earlier than its maiden Grand Prix victory when it established a motorcycle subsidiary in 1959. Twenty years later Honda began manufacturing motorcycles locally and in 1982 went on to become the first Japanese manufacturer to produce passenger cars in North America. In 1986 Honda started operations at an automobile plant in Canada, upholding its commitment to manufacturing products where demand exists. The company now manufactures over one million automobiles in North America every year, and plans to expand its production capacity in this region to 1.18 million automobiles by 2003. Links with the local market and local industry have been strengthened by the development of models specifically for North America and the procurement of parts from local suppliers. Honda's local procurement rate for parts is over 90%, and its network of local suppliers now includes over 400 companies. Having begun exporting in 1987, Honda’s cumulative exports of automobiles from North America have surpassed 500,000 units. Integral to its business policy throughout the world, Honda remains fully committed to its active engagement with environmental issues in the United States. In 1973, the manufacturer launched a Civic fitted with a CVCC engine, which not only met the standards in the US emissions legislation - the most stringent in the world at that time - but was also designated as the world's cleanest engine by the United States Academy of Science. Today, over 80% of Honda vehicles already qualify for Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV), Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV), or Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) status under the stringent standards, the toughest in the world, set down by the state of California. Honda’s recent racing credentials in the US have been built up chiefly through the activities and operations of Honda Performance Development, founded in 1993, in CART. Honda has won more than 60 races since it started competition in 1994, including winning four CART Manufacturers’ Championships. The Honda Turbo V-8 has powered the past six consecutive CART World Series Drivers’ Champions. Shuhei Nakamoto – Race and Test Team Manager, Honda Racing Development “We were encouraged by the results from the Italian Grand Prix where all four Honda-powered cars finished. Now everyone is looking forward to the unique challenges of Indianapolis – a circuit that features the second longest full-throttle section of the season now that most drivers are taking Eau Rouge at Spa without lifting.” Circuit Details Circuit Name Indianapolis Motor Speedway Circuit Address 4790 West 16th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46222, USA Circuit Length 4.192km/2.605miles Timetable (all times are local – GMT/UTC is 5 hours ahead) Friday Free Practice: 11.00-12.00 & 13.00-14.00 Saturday Free Practice: 09.00-09.45 & 10.15-11.00 Qualifying: 13.00-14.00 Sunday Warm-up: 08.30-09.00 Race (73 laps): 13.00 2001 Results Winner M Hakkinen (McLaren) 1h32m42.840s Fastest race lap J Montoya (Williams) 1m14.448s Pole position M Schumacher (Ferrari) 1m11.708s Lap record J Montoya (Williams) 1m14.448s Honda in USA 2001 Trulli 4th / Alesi 7th / Panis 11th / Villeneuve DNF Honda in USA 15 Grands Prix; 7 wins (Senna 87/88/90/91, Prost 89, Rosberg 84/85); 10 podiums Honda F1 winners Senna 32, Mansell 13, Prost 11, Piquet 7, Berger & Rosberg 3, Ginther & Surtees 1 Team wins powered by Honda McLaren-Honda 44, Williams-Honda 23, Honda 2, Lotus-Honda 2