Miller renews with Rahal.

Miller Lite colours will once again adorn one of Bobby Rahal's CART FedEx Series entries in 2002 after signing a 'multiyear' deal with the team who have run Miller colours since 1992. The brewing companies presence with the team guarantees that Jimmy Vasser will have a teammate next year after some recent speculation that Rahal could downsize his effort to one car next year.

The Miller Brewing Company, a major sponsor in open wheel racing for nearly three decades, confirmed on Saturday at the California Speedway that it would continue its long-standing relationship with CART FedEx Championship Series contenders Team Rahal with a multi-year agreement.

Miller, who first appeared on a Bobby Rahal-owned Champ Car in 1992, will sponsor the sister Lola-Ford to that of the Shell sponsored Jimmy Vasser in 2002 although no driver has yet been confirmed. Current Miller Lite driver Max Papis has said that Sunday's Marlboro 500 presented by Toyota at the two-mile Fontana oval will be his last for the Miller team and it is known that both team and sponsor would like an American driver behind the wheel of their car in 2002.

Potential candidates for the seat include Casey Mears, who made his CART debut for Rahal at Fontana last year, 2000 Toyota Atlantic Champion Buddy Rice and current CART 'Supersub' Memo Gidley who faces a fight with Bruno Junqueira for the second Target Chip Ganassi berth next year alongside outgoing Team Rahal driver Kenny Brack.

Team Rahal has enjoyed the finest season in its history in 2001 with six victories, seven pole positions and 789 laps, all new team records for a single season with Papis scoring two wins and a total of three podium finishes prior to the final round of the series in Miller colours.

"Miller is very happy to continue our great association with Bobby, David and Team Rahal," said Mike Welsh, director of event marketing for Miller. "We have had a tremendous relationship with them for a decade. Team Rahal is one of the top leading operations in all of motorsports and we look forward to working with them again. "

Miller Brewing, which began racing sponsorships on a national basis in 1971, has been involved in all forms of motorsports in 30 years including open-wheel cars, stock cars, drag racing machines, sports cars, hydroplane boats, off-road vehicles and motorcycles.

"Our relationship with Miller Brewing has one of the finest in all of motor racing in this country," said Rahal, the three-time CART champion and a 24-time race winner. "Miller's involvement in this sport is now legendary and we, at Team Rahal, are very pleased to continue our long association with a sports leader like Miller Brewing. I won my last CART championship with Miller Genuine Draft and I drove my last race in the Miller Lite car. I will always be grateful to the Miller folks. David (Letterman, Rahal's co-owner) and I want to thank them for their continued support of Team Rahal."

The 2002 CART FedEx campaign will mark the 30th season that Miller has been a sponsor in open-wheel competition dating back to 1973 in the United States Auto Club (USAC). Since its first involvement, Miller Indy and Championship cars have won 17 races including the 1985 Indianapolis 500 (with Danny Sullivan), 19 pole positions and two CART season championships (with Danny Sullivan in 1988 and Bobby Rahal in 1992). Miller also sponsored the Indy 500 Pit Stop Contest for 18 years.

The Miller High Life brand began the open-wheel association in 1973 with Jim Hurtubise and continued with Penske Racing in 1980s. Patrick Racing ran the Miller Genuine Draft colours in 1990 and 1991 followed by Rahal/Hogan Racing in 1992 to 1995. In 1996, Rahal joined forces with entertainer David Letterman to form Team Rahal and began campaigning the Miller Lite livery in 1997.

Rahal retired from driving in 1998 and was replaced by Italian driver Papis who has thus far amassed three victories, two pole positions and a total of eight podium finishes. With one round of the 2001 season to go Papis sits eighth in the points standings and could rise as high as sixth should he win on Sunday and other results go his way.