A new era opens for Team Rahal.

A new era begins for Team Rahal this weekend when drivers Jimmy Vasser and Michel Jourdain Jr. take to the track in Monterrey, Mexico for the 2002 CART FedEx Championship Series opener. Vasser, the 1996 CART champion, joins Team Rahal as the driver of the #8 Shell Ford-Cosworth/Lola while 25-year-old Jourdain Jr., the pilot of the Gigante Ford-Cosworth/Lola, will debut the Gigante sponsored car.

Gigante and Team Rahal announced their new partnership in late January in the deal that brought Jourdain Jr. to Team Rahal. The Gigante Group is present in 63 cities in Mexico and in Los Angeles, California maintaining 375 points of sale specialising in groceries, perishables and general merchandise. The company also has specialised restaurants [Toks Restaurants] and stores featuring office supplies [Office Depot] and electronic goods [Radio Shack]. Gigante's first venture into the United States has been with three stores in southern California.

Vasser was announced as the driver of the Shell car late last season and the 35-year-old California native has been kept busy with the majority of the team's winter testing program. Vasser suffered through a frustrating 2001 season at Patrick Racing, finishing 12th in the championship and snapping a streak of six consecutive top-ten championship finishes (1995-2000).

"Monterrey is a fantastic event," said Vasser. "There is always a special atmosphere around the season opener, but last year was something else with the larger crowds and the festivities surrounding the race. The Mexican fans turned out in record number and showed great support for CART. I can't remember when I have been as excited about the start of a season as I am this year. We are really hoping to get off to a good start and to be honest the attitude of this team is that anything short of winning is a disappointment."

Michel Jourdain Jr. joins Team Rahal after two seasons at Bettenhausen Motor Sports. He holds the distinction of being the youngest driver in CART history, having made his debut in 1996 at 19 years, 7 months and 12 days. Although he is only 25 he has 101 Champ Car starts to his credit.

"The last six weeks have been a dream come true," said Jourdain. "Everything has happened so fast but to be driving for Team Rahal and racing for a champion like Bobby [Rahal] is something that I have been working for throughout my career. To be in this position and representing great companies like Gigante and Office Depot is a thrill. I have spent a lot of time with my engineers Ray Leto and Tim Reiter and we have made a lot of progress despite having only four days on track. There hasn't been as big of a learning curve for me because I have run the Lola/Ford package in the past."

"I have followed Michel's career over the years and I have always thought of him as a diamond in the rough," said three-time CART champion and Team Rahal owner Bobby Rahal. "For the first time in his Champ Car career, Michel is going to have the advantage of a two-car team and the additional that feedback a team-mate can supply. I have seen firsthand the skill this kid has and now it is up to us at Team Rahal to help him become the best driver that he can be. I think we have a very good driver combination for this season in Jimmy and Michel and when you add in the Ford/Lola and Bridgestone package, we have all the ingredients to contend for the title."

Team Rahal was Champ Car's winningest team in 2001, leading the CART FedEx Championship Series in wins (6) and laps led (843) while capturing seven poles and finishing second in three other races. The only prizes that eluded Team Rahal in 2001 were the CART championship and the Vanderbilt Cup.