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CART: FedEx Championship Series Attendance up by 3.8 Percent

10 January 2001

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

DETROIT- According to data compiled by the Sponsors Report, published by Joyce Julius and Associates, Inc., attendance at FedEx Championship Series events rose by 3.8 percent during the 2000 season when compared with attendance figures from 1999.

One of the most competitive seasons in FedEx Championship Series history played out before 2,621,229 fans, up from 2,524,160 fans a year earlier. The 1999 and 2000 campaigns each included 20 events while the championship season will be comprised of a record 22 events in 2001.

Attendance grew during 2000 despite the fact that events in Nazareth, Pa.; Motegi, Japan; Milwaukee and Fontana, Calif. were postponed due to weather and contested on dates other than those originally scheduled.

"Despite the numerous meteorological challenges we faced during the 2000 season, we drew more fans than we had during 1999," said CART Senior Vice President of Marketing Patrick Leahy, . "We find this particularly gratifying in that it displays the loyalty of Champ Car fans, as well as their confidence in our product."

During his recently concluded first year at CART, Leahy committed to putting more fans in the stands, thereby growing the fan base for Champ Car racing. The effort paid dividends and will continue with an expansion of fan-oriented programs in 2001.

Text Provided By T.E. McHale

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