| | LONDON -- The CART racing series is coming to Europe.
Andrew Craig, the chief executive officer of Championship Auto Racing Teams, confirmed Wednesday the open-wheel racing series will make its European debut in 2001 in England or Germany.
Craig, in London to firm up the deal, said a European race would be run probably in the fall and a second European venue could be added in 2002. He said the 2001 venue would be announced in two months.
CART will try to avoid going head-to-head with Europe's highly popular Formula One circuit, which has 17 Grand Prix races this season, including one in England and two in Germany.
Craig said the 2001 CART schedule will remain at 20 races, with one U.S. event almost sure to be dropped next season. Reports have suggested St. Louis would be the casualty.
Craig said it was also possible a Mexican race might be added in 2001, which would bring the schedule to 21 races.
In addition to the United States and Canada, CART's calendar this season includes Japan, Brazil and Australia.
Both possible European venues have oval tracks. The English site is the 1.5-mile Rockingham Motor Speedway in central England near Corby. The German candidate is the Laustizring circuit, a 2-mile oval 60 miles south of Berlin.
Craig, born in London, said CART would emphasize its American roots and would not attempt to compete with Formula One or become an "alternative world championship."
He admitted many Europeans don't take oval racing "too seriously," seeing it as nothing more than a series of "left turns." But he promised to convert Europeans with fan-friendly venues, lots of passing and close finishes, and access to the
drivers.
"This is not a criticism of Formula One because it is a great competition and the world championship, but it's probably more elitist than we are," he said.
Craig said putting on a European race would cost about $6 million -- about the same as an American venue.
CART has averaged 147,000 spectators for three days of practice, qualifying and the race. Craig expects similar numbers in Europe.
"We are going to offer something that is uniquely American that Europeans have never experienced before," Craig said. "Once fans see one they will be won over.
"With oval racing you can see every single turn, there's not a bad seat in the house. And the outcome is often in doubt right up to the last lap."
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