2000s in motorsport

	1990s .2000s in motorsport. 2010s
	Other topics: N/A

Last updated May 20, 2024

The new millennium saw many changes for motorsport. Not only were there technological developments, but also historic ones like NASCAR's severing of ties with the tobacco industry.

North America

Dodge replaces Pontiac in NASCAR as General Motors discontinues the brand. The Dodge Avenger is the vehicle of choice for the new brand.
NASCAR severs ties with R.J. Reynolds after decades of sponsorship
The United States Grand Prix returns in 2001 after almost a decade, being held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. It is held there until 2007, after which it is dropped again.
The Canadian Grand Prix is dropped in 2008 after twenty years. It returns two years later.^[1]
Watkins Glen International returns to the IndyCar Series for the first time since 1981. It is dropped in 2011, revived in 2016, and then dropped again in 2018.
Sonoma Raceway becomes a regular on the IndyCar schedule. It will last until 2018, after which it is dropped in favor of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
The Chevrolet Camaro is discontinued in 2002. It will not return for eight years.
The Dodge Challenger returns in 2008 based on the original model from the sixties.
IMSA first holds an event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
The Pontiac GTO returns based on the Holden Monaro. Due to bland styling and Pontiac's decreasing sales, the model is discontinued after only four years. During its run, it is used in the Rolex Sports Car Series and Grand Am Cup Series. The latter is now known as the Michelin Pilot Challenge.
The Mercury Cougar is discontinued after over thirty years. Due to the brand's discontinuation, the model does not see a return
The Pontiac Firebird is discontinued in 2002 alongside the Camaro. Due to the discontinuation of the Pontiac brand, the Firebird does not see a return.
The Ford GT is introduced based on the Ford GT40, albeit as a grand tourer rather than a prototype. Unlike the GT40, the GT is not dominant in motorsport.
The IndyCar Series drops all tobacco advertising
After NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt's horrific fatal death, NASCAR introduces the Car of Tomorrow in an attempt to develop a safer vehicle. This begins an era of NASCAR vehicles becoming more stock, today akin to grand tourers.
Successful GT racing team K-Pax Racing is founded
Debut of IndyCar legend Danica Patrick. Over the years she has tried to become the first woman to win the Indianapolis 500, but without success. Due to the attention gained by her attempts, she is added to a version of Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing.
The Detroit Grand Prix is dropped in 2001 after twenty years. It is revived in 2007 after six years. It is held until 2009. It is revived again three years later at Belle Isle as a doubleheader. It remained there until 2023 when it moved to a new circuit in downtown Detroit.
Sports car legend Scott Pruett debuts.
Debut of IndyCar star Dan Wheldon. He would compete until his death at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2011. This resulted in the introduction of the introduction of the HANS device
Scott Speed becomes the first American F1 driver since Michael Andretti, joining in 2006. His career is shortlived, ending in 2007. He goes on to compete in IndyCar and NASCAR among other series.
NASCAR hosts an event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
The Indy Racing League and Champ Car World Series merge to become the IndyCar Series
The Ford Thunderbird returns as a luxury roadster, but is quickly discontinued due to poor sales
For 2001, the Talladega 500 returns. It subsequently reacquires its corporate sponsor the following year.
After being in Formula One since the sixties, Ford withdraws as a supplier, but returns for 2003-2004.

South America

IndyCar legend Helio Castroneves makes his debut

Europe

The French Grand Prix is dropped in 2008 after over fifty years. It does not return until 2018.
The Austrian Grand Prix is dropped in 2003. It does not return until 2014.
The San Marino Grand Prix is dropped in 2006 after over twenty years. Imola Circuit will return to the calendar in 2020 in the form of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, initially as filler to replace events canceled by COVID-19
The Bahrain Grand Prix debuts in 2004
Kinetic Energy Recovery System is introduced in Formula One
Bentley returns to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2003, winning for the first time since 1930 using a thinly-disguised Audi R8.
The FIA bans the use of tobacco advertising from F1. Scuderia Ferrari and McLaren, however, eventually find ways to advertise tobacco subliminally.
Debut of Formula One champion Fernando Alonso
F1 legend Lewis Hamilton debuts
Audi dominates for many years in endurance racing due to its diesel engines and pit strategies. Their streak ends in 2015 when Porsche Racing begins their dynasty and the FIA makes several rule changes.
Debut of Formula One champion Jensen Button
Morgan introduces the Aero 8, which becomes a competitive grand tourer. It is also their first modern designed car since before World War II.

Asia

The Chinese Grand Prix debuts in 2004.^[2]
The Singapore Grand Prix debuts in 2008.^[3]
The Acura NSX is discontinued in 2005 after about fifteen years. It does not return for over ten years.

Middle East

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix debuts in 2009.^[4]
The Turkish Grand Prix debuts 2005.^[5] It is held until 2011 and then dropped, returning in 2020.
The Bahrain Grand Prix is first held.

Central America

From 2005 to 2008 the NASCAR Xfinity Series hosts an event at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez

South Pacific

IndyCar legend Scott Dixon makes his debut

Related Research Articles

Scuderia Ferrari, currently competing as Scuderia Ferrari HP, is the racing division of luxury Italian auto manufacturer Ferrari and the racing team that competes in Formula One racing. The team is also known by the nickname "The Prancing Horse", in reference to their logo. It is the oldest surviving and most successful Formula One team, having competed in every world championship since 1950.

Mario Gabriele Andretti is an American former racing driver. He is widely regarded among the most successful drivers in the history of motorsports. Andretti is one of only three drivers to have won races in Formula One, IndyCar, the World Sportscar Championship, and NASCAR. He has also won races in midget car racing and sprint car racing.

Daniel Sexton Gurney was an American racing driver, race car constructor, and team owner who reached racing's highest levels starting in 1958. Gurney won races in the Formula One, Indy Car, NASCAR, Can-Am, and Trans-Am Series. Gurney is the first of three drivers to have won races in sports cars (1958), Formula One (1962), NASCAR (1963), and Indy cars (1967), the other two being Mario Andretti and Juan Pablo Montoya.

Mark Blundell is a British racing driver who competed in Formula One for four seasons, sports cars, and CART. He won the 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans. He was a Formula One presenter for the British broadcaster ITV until the end of the 2008 season when the TV broadcasting rights switched to the BBC. Blundell returned to the track in 2019, driving in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship for the Trade Price Cars team. Blundell has returned to the series in a new role for 2020 helping to form the latest name to line the grid - MB Motorsport as Sporting Director working with Laser Tools Racing. He is CEO of Europe wide sports management group, MB Partners.

Roberto Pupo Moreno, usually known as Roberto Moreno and also as Pupo Moreno, is a Brazilian former racing driver. He participated in 75 Formula One Grands Prix, achieved 1 podium, and scored a total of 15 championship points. He raced in CART in 1986, and was Formula 3000 champion before joining Formula One full-time in 1989. He returned to CART in 1996 where he enjoyed an Indian summer in 2000 and 2001, and managed to extend his career in the series until 2008. He also raced in endurance events and GT's in Brazil, but now works as a driver coach and consultant, and although this takes up a lot of his time, he is not officially retired yet, as he appears in historic events. Away from the sport, he enjoys building light aeroplanes.

In motorsport, a safety car, or a pace car, is an automobile which limits the speed of competing cars or motorcycles on a racetrack in the case of a caution period such as an obstruction on the track or bad weather. The aim of the safety car is to enable the clearance of any obstruction under safer conditions, especially for marshals and/or await more favourable track conditions weather-wise. By following the safety car, the competitors' tyres remain as close as possible to operating temperature while their engines do not overheat. A safety car is also preferred over stopping the race and restarting as the latter takes longer.

Ryan John Briscoe is an Australian–American professional racing driver from Sydney who has predominantly raced open-wheel and sports cars in Europe and America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel</span>

The Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel was developed by Microsoft for the Xbox 360 and was introduced at E3 2006. Released in November 2006, the force feedback steering wheel controller includes the standard gamepad buttons along with floor-mounted accelerator and brake pedals. Although the wheel is capable of running truly wirelessly from a standard Xbox 360 battery pack, use of the force feedback and active resistance features requires an external AC adapter.

Ford Performance is the high-performance division of the Ford Motor Company and the multinational name used for its motorsport and racing activity.

Since its introduction to motorsport in the early 1970s, Toyota has been involved in a number of motorsport activities, most notably in Formula One, NASCAR, IndyCar, sports car racing, various off-road rallies and the WRC. Currently, Toyota participates in the Toyota Racing Series, Super Formula, Formula Three, Formula Drift, NHRA, USAC, Super GT, NASCAR, the WRC and the WEC. All of Toyota's motorsport activities are handled by Toyota Gazoo Racing.

Maximilian Alexander Chilton is a British racing driver who last competed for Carlin Motorsport in the IndyCar Series, before announcing his retirement from IndyCar in February 2022. Prior to IndyCar, he competed in Formula One, driving for Marussia F1 in 2013 and 2014. In 2012, he raced in the GP2 series for Marussia-backed Carlin Motorsport.

James D. Davison is an Australian professional racing driver who drives an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 in the Blancpain GT World Challenge America. He has also competed in the NTT IndyCar Series, NASCAR Cup Series, and NASCAR Xfinity Series. He is sometimes also called JD Davison.

This article documents the status of motorsports in the 1950s.

This article documents the events that occurred in motorsports in the 1960s.

This article documents the events in motorsport that happened in the 1970s.

This page documents some of the events that happened in motorsport in the 1980s.

Rob Wilson is a driving coach and a former racing driver from New Zealand. Wilson raced in various formula racing and endurance racing series.

Santino Michael Ferrucci is an American racing driver. He competes in the IndyCar Series, driving the No 14 Chevrolet for A.J. Foyt Racing. He has also previously raced in the FIA Formula 2 Championship.

This page documents some of the events that happened in motorsport in the 1990s.

The 2010s saw several notable changes in motorsport.

References

↑ "Canada missing from Formula 1 calendar in 2009". grandprix.com. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
↑ "Grand Prix Shanghai Set to Go". China.org.cn. 22 October 2002. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
↑ "Singapore confirms 2008 night race". Formula1.com. 11 May 2007. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
↑ "Abu Dhabi to stage 2009 F1 finale". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 June 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
↑ "Turkish". Formula1.com. Archived from the original on 2005-11-25. Retrieved 23 December 2020.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] "Canada missing from Formula 1 calendar in 2009". grandprix.com. Retrieved 8 October 2008.

[2] "Grand Prix Shanghai Set to Go". China.org.cn. 22 October 2002. Retrieved 5 February 2022.

[3] "Singapore confirms 2008 night race". Formula1.com. 11 May 2007. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2015.

[4] "Abu Dhabi to stage 2009 F1 finale". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 June 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2022.

[5] "Turkish". Formula1.com. Archived from the original on 2005-11-25. Retrieved 23 December 2020.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]