Season-high ratings for Miami.
The Grand Prix Americas telecast on CBS Sports exposed more sports fans to the fast-paced action of the CART FedEx Championship Series than any other CART event this season.
The race, which saw Cristiano da Matta (#6 Chevron Toyota/Lola/Bridgestone) of Newman/Haas Racing clinch the 2002 series title, was shown live in 39 percent of the U.S. markets and tape-delayed in the others. The broadcast drew a final gross national rating of 1.4, which translates into 1.48 million households.
The Grand Prix Americas telecast on CBS Sports exposed more sports fans to the fast-paced action of the CART FedEx Championship Series than any other CART event this season.
The race, which saw Cristiano da Matta (#6 Chevron Toyota/Lola/Bridgestone) of Newman/Haas Racing clinch the 2002 series title, was shown live in 39 percent of the U.S. markets and tape-delayed in the others. The broadcast drew a final gross national rating of 1.4, which translates into 1.48 million households.
The household exposure number eclipses the June 2 Miller Lite 250 from The Milwaukee Mile, which had held the top spot for the season with 1.26 million households. The tape-delayed broadcast was bolstered by the lead-in from the National Football League broadcasts on CBS, with the 90-minute show - which was joined in progress - exposing many new fans to the sport.
"More and more people are recognizing what kind of racing we offer in the CART FedEx Championship Series and greater numbers of them are tuning in to see our teams and drivers perform," said CART President and CEO Christopher R. Pook. "We intend to build on these numbers and continue to showcase the skills of these incredibly talented drivers."
The Miami event was the crowning point of seven CART FedEx Championship Series races broadcast in the first season of CART's partnership with CBS Sports. In addition to Miami, CBS Sports televised the Miller Lite 250 from Milwaukee, the G.I. Joe's 200 from Portland, the CART Grand Prix of Chicago, the Molson Indy Toronto, the Marconi Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by U.S. Bank and the CART Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio.
"The ratings from Miami marked a perfect way to end our first year together," said CBS Sports Senior Vice President of Programming Rob Correa. "We're looking forward to building on the foundation we have with CART and the FedEx Championship Series in 2003."
The year's remaining races will be broadcast live on SPEED Channel starting with the Honda Indy 300 from Australia (October 27, 12:00 a.m. ET) followed by The 500 Presented by Toyota at California Speedway (November 3, 3:30 ET) and the season-ending Gran Premio Telmex/Gigante Presented by Banamex/Visa in Mexico City, Mexico (November 17, 4:00 p.m. ET).
