CART Drops All European Races

LONDON - The AP reported that CART dropped the Rockingham 500 from next season's calendar on Monday, leaving the troubled open-wheel series without any races in Europe in 2003.

CART, however, hopes to announce shortly that it will hold at least two races in Europe next year.

The Rockingham 500, run the last two seasons in central England, has drawn small crowds. Ashley Pover, chief operating officer of the track, called the 2003 race "fiscally unviable" but left open the possibility of a return in 2004.

Other races next season in Europe could be announced "pretty quickly," CART spokesman Merrill Cain said. Reports suggest venues could include Estoril, Portugal; Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium; Brands Hatch, England; and Jerez, Spain.

The Spa circuit became available when Formula One last month removed the Belgian Grand Prix from its calendar because of a Belgian law prohibiting tobacco advertising.

CART has open dates for April 27 and May 4. Cain said the odds were "pretty good" CART would run two races in Europe next season, with a chance for three.

Rockingham hosted its first CART race in 2001, which came 11 days after the Sept. 11 attacks. The initial race drew 38,000 fans and was hurt by bad weather and wet patches on the new track.

Organizers estimated this year's crowd at 30,000 although many placed the figure at 20,000 for the 52,000-seat facility.

CART's other recent foray into Europe was the American Memorial 500 in Klettwitz, Germany - four days after the Sept. 11 attacks. The event drew 80,000 fans in a race in which Alex Zanardi lost both legs in a horrendous crash.

The race scheduled for 2002 was canceled when the track announced financial problems earlier this year.

CART's TV ratings in the United States were abysmal in 2002, with its production of six races on CBS losing the company more than $12 million, according to the recent quarterly report from the publicly held company.

In addition, CART's teams and drivers are heading elsewhere in a steady stream.

Cristiano da Matta, who dominated the series with seven victories and wrapped up the title with two races remaining, will move to Formula One in 2003, driving for the Toyota team.

CART's all-time leading race winner, Michael Andretti, is becoming a team owner and moving to the rival Indy Racing League, taking Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan with him.