Canadian Grand Prix Grand Prix was the most watched Formula One GP in the world. The race was also the third most watched sporting event worldwide, behind the first place Super Bowl XXXIX and the UEFA Champions League Final. Preceding the qualifying session in 2014, the Grand Prix organizers announced they had agreed to a 10-year extension to keep the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve through 2024. The early Canadian Grand Prix was one of the premier events of the new Canadian Sports Car Championship, a series which had been created alongside the Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport Park near Toronto
2000 Monaco Grand Prix the championship, winning the previous six races. Championship competitors Barrichello and Fisichella had gained second place podium finishes while Ralf Schumacher and Heinz-Harald Frentzen had achieved third place podium finishes. Following the European Grand Prix on 21 May the teams conducted testing sessions across European circuits between 23–27 May to prepare for the Grand Prix. Jordan, Sauber, Benetton, Jaguar and Arrows opted to test at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo circuit which made its Formula One testing début that garnered mixed reviews from the drivers. Frentzen was fastest on the first day of testing, ahead of Sauber test driver Enrique Bernoldi.