Rahal signs Vasser as replacement for Brack.

Jimmy Vasser's predicted move to Team Rahal was finally confirmed at Laguna Seca on Friday when the veteran American inked a one year deal to run the Shell sponsored Lola-Ford currently piloted by Championship contender Kenny Brack who is moving to one of Vasser's old team's, Target Chip Ganassi Racing, next year.

CART FedEx Championship Series competitors Team Rahal announced officially on Friday that Jimmy Vasser, the 1996 CART FedEx Championship Series champion, has signed with the team to pilot its Shell Ford-Cosworth powered Lola during the 2002 season. In a press conference held at the Laguna Seca Raceway, owner Bobby Rahal introduced the new driver along with Mike Iribarren, general manager of marketing for the Shell brand.

In his ten-year Champ Car career, Vasser has posted nine wins, captured the 1996 CART championship, and won over $10 million in prize money. Vasser ranks third among active CART drivers in starts (165), fourth in wins (9) and sixth in poles (7) and laps led (770).

"I have been impressed with Jimmy's driving for many years as we competed wheel to-wheel on numerous occasions," said Rahal. "In fact, I talked to Jimmy several years ago about joining Team Rahal but timing wasn't right back then. Now, everything has worked out and David (Letterman, Rahal's co-owner) and I are extremely happy to bring this top American driver on board. The Shell car has been a championship contender this year and I believe Jimmy will keep the Shell car in title contention in 2002."

"Bobby and I have talked about this for many years and now it has finally come together," said Vasser, who won the 1998 500-mile race in Fontana, Calif., that was Rahal's last race as a CART driver. "I am very happy to join the Shell team which has proven it is a championship calibre team that enjoys great sponsorship. I think we can be right in the battle for next year's championship."

"We are very pleased to have a champion like Jimmy Vasser joining Team Rahal to drive the Shell Ford Lola in 2002," said Michael Iribarren, general manager of marketing for the Shell brand. "Jimmy is one of the most versatile drivers in the world. He has shown the ability to win on ovals, super speedways and on road and street courses. With a champion like Jimmy and a championship team like Shell Team Rahal, we are looking forward to contending for the CART championship again next year."

An established veteran of the CART FedEx Championship Series, Vasser brings a stellar racing resume to Team Rahal. He has competed in 165 CART events dating back to his rookie season of 1992 when he was the top-qualifying rookie at the Indy 500 and he posted a top finish of seventh at Long Beach.

He joined Chip Ganassi Racing in 1995 and since then Vasser has finished in the top ten in the final CART standings each season including his championship year of 1996 when he won four races, captured four poles and posted 14 top-ten results and amazingly finished every race.

He followed his championship year by finishing third in the points in 1997, second in 1998, ninth in 1999 and sixth in 2000.

Vasser's versatility has been proven as he had posted victories on all four CART disciplines - streets, road courses, short ovals and super speedways - including Homestead, Australia, Long Beach and U.S. 500 (Michigan) in 1996; Laguna Seca in 1997; Nazareth, Milwaukee and California 500 (Fontana) in 1998 and Houston in 2000.

Vasser's past racing history includes three national quarter-midget titles, the North American Formula Ford championship, SCCA National Formula Ford title and runner-up for the Toyota Atlantic crown.

"The challenge for our team is to continue to build on the success and the momentum that Team Rahal has had during the 2001 season," said Team Rahal co-owner David Letterman. "The addition of a former champion and an established veteran in Jimmy gives us the opportunity to continue to build on the success we have enjoyed here already."

Currently in his first (and only) year with Patrick Racing, Vasser's 2001 season has been blighted with bad luck for despite a very promising opening portion of the season, a string of retirements and poor finishes means he is only 14th in the points table with 58 points compared to current leader Gil De Ferran's 163.

Although Vasser's move to Team Rahal was widely predicted as far back at Germany, the confirmation of his arrival in the Shell sponsored car and not its Miller Lite counterpart still leaves the future of Max Papis unclear. It is no secret that Team Rahal haven't been overjoyed with Papis' 2001 season despite a superbly controlled wet weather win at Portland and two costly accidents with Brack (at Michigan and Mid Ohio) have gone a long way to dent the Swedish drivers title hopes and push 'Mad' Max out of favour within the team.

Team Rahal continue to remain tight-lipped over Papis' future as does Papis and although his position may have been strengthened by the arrival of an American in the team, 2000 Toyota Atlantic Champion Buddy Rice's name has been mentioned in connection with the drive on more than one occasion. Also in the frame is Casey Mears who made his CART bow with the team at Fontana in 2000. Although currently taking the place of Alex Zanardi at Mo Nunn Racing, Mears still holds close ties to Team Rahal who have made no secret of their desire to have a young up-and-coming American with the team next year.

In 2002, Shell will enter its seventh season as a primary sponsor on one of Team Rahal's Champ Cars. Shell first partnered with Team Rahal in 1993 as an associate sponsor. Over the last six seasons the Shell car has accounted for six victories, 12 pole positions and 19 podium appearances in the CART FedEx Championship Series.