2002 Gran Premio Telmex-Gigante

Mexico 2002 Mexico City
Race details
Race 19 of 19 in the 2002 CART season
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez track layout
DateNovember 17, 2002
Official name2002 Gran Premio Telmex-Gigante Presented by Banamex/Visa
LocationAutódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
Mexico City, Mexico
CoursePermanent Road Course
2.786 mi / 4.484 km
Distance73 laps
203.378 mi / 327.332 km
WeatherHazy
Pole position
DriverBruno Junqueira (Target Chip Ganassi Racing)
Time1:25.941
Fastest lap
DriverShinji Nakano (Fernández Racing)
Time1:27.248 (on lap 70 of 73)
Podium
FirstKenny Bräck (Target Chip Ganassi Racing)
SecondCristiano da Matta (Newman/Haas Racing)
ThirdBruno Junqueira (Target Chip Ganassi Racing)

The 2002 Gran Premio Telmex-Gigante was the nineteenth and final round of the 2002 CART FedEx Champ Car World Series season, held on November 17, 2002 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, Mexico. It was the first Champ Car race at the track since the 1981 season. The race preceded a mass exodus of significant drivers and teams who all competed in their final Champ Car event, most of whom knew beforehand that they would not return. Most rued the fact that they were leaving for the rival Indy Racing League, wishing to continue in CART rather than endure a more stable future in the IRL.[1] CART's winningest driver (42 wins), Michael Andretti, along with Kenny Brack, Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan, and Japan's most successful driver in U.S. open wheel racing Tora Takagi would all bid CART adieu in favor of the IRL. Other entities leaving CART included 1996-1999 champions Chip Ganassi Racing, 1995 champions Team KOOL Green, and Mo Nunn Racing permanently switched to the IRL, and Japanese automotive industry giants Honda and Toyota likewise left CART for the IRL. Season champion Cristiano da Matta was set to leave CART for Formula One with his engine supplier's F1 team, and Christian Fittipaldi attempted a stock car career.