2001 Tecate/Telmex Grand Prix of Monterrey
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Race 1 of 21 in the 2001 CART season
| |||
| Date | March 11, 2001 | ||
| Official name | Tecate/Telmex Grand Prix of Monterrey Presented by Herdez | ||
| Location | Fundidora Park, Monterrey, Mexico | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility 2.104 mi / 3.386 km | ||
| Distance | 78 laps 164.112 mi / 264.113 km | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Kenny Bräck (Team Rahal) | ||
| Time | 1:15.244 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | Dario Franchitti (Team Green) | ||
| Time | 1:15.403 (on lap 59 of 78) | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Cristiano da Matta (Newman/Haas Racing) | ||
| Second | Gil de Ferran (Team Penske) | ||
| Third | Paul Tracy (Team Green) | ||
The 2001 Tecate/Telmex Grand Prix of Monterrey was a Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) motor race held on March 11, 2001 in Monterrey, Mexico at Fundidora Park before 116,000 spectators. The 78-lap race was the first of the 2001 CART FedEx Championship Series and the inaugural running of the event. Cristiano da Matta of Newman/Haas Racing won the race; Gil de Ferran finished second and Paul Tracy came in third.
After lapping the fastest time in qualifying, Kenny Bräck won the pole position and dominated the first half of the race, only conceding the lead to rookie competitor Scott Dixon, who chose not to make a pit stop during a caution period. However, Bräck was suddenly hampered by brief engine issues, allowing da Matta to overtake him for the lead on lap 43. Da Matta remained largely unchallenged for the rest of the race, only giving up the lead to Dario Franchitti during a cycle of green-flag pit stops, and earned his second CART victory. In addition, da Matta, Lola, and Toyota earned the lead in the Drivers' Championship, Constructors' Championship, and Manufacturers' Championship, respectively. The scheduled distance of 80 laps was curtailed to meet the two-hour time limit.
The race was deemed a success among journalists, drivers, and race organizers, prompting CART to host a second event in Mexico beginning in 2002. The Grand Prix of Monterrey remained on CART's schedule until 2006.