Team Rahal and Shell join with Best Western.

Team Rahal, a franchise member of Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART), and Shell Oil Products US and Motiva, LLC, announced today a partnership with Best Western and a marketing initiative that will utilise Shell driver Jimmy Vasser and the Shell Ford-Cosworth/Lola throughout the 2002 season. The Best Western logo will be placed on the Champ Car of Vasser, the 1996 CART champion, throughout the 2002 CART FedEx Championship Series season.

"We are very excited to be involved with such a distinguished racing organisation," commented Bob Gilbert, vice president of Worldwide Sales and Marketing for Best Western International. "I believe CART race fans truly represent Best Western guests. We hope this partnership provides us more opportunity to get our name out to the millions of loyal race fans."

"Shell and Best Western are among the most recognised brands in the world, and they have gained that worldwide recognition through aggressive and innovative marketing programs and by being trend-setters in their respective industries," said three-time CART champion and Team Rahal co-owner Bobby Rahal. "The promotional program that has been outlined for this season by Shell and Best Western is one that will utilise Jimmy and Shell car in an aggressive program that will not only bring awareness to the team and its partners but to Champ Car racing and CART."

"Shell is pleased to have Best Western as a new partner," said Stu Crum, Director of Communications and Marketing of Shell. "We strive to find partners that will contribute to the success of the team as well as complement our business goals. Best Western has demonstrated its desire to support our racing program with focus."

Best Western is complementing this relationship with a Sleep and Win sweepstakes at the more than 2,300 hotels in the United States and Canada. The instant winner scratch card can be obtained at time of check-in and includes such fabulous prizes as Jaguars, Ford Explorer and hotel stays.

Team Rahal is a franchise member of Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART). Headquartered in Hilliard, Ohio, the team owned by three-time CART Champion Bobby Rahal and CBS LATE SHOW host David Letterman, currently fields a pair of Championship Cars for 1996 CART champion Jimmy Vasser and Michel Jourdain Jr. in the CART FedEx Championship Series and an entry for Vasser in the Indianapolis 500. The 65-member team enjoys primary sponsorship from the Shell Oil Products US and Motiva, LLC, and the Gigante Group in CART and the Miller Brewing Company for the Indy 500.

Best Western International is The World's Largest Hotel Chain* with more than 4,000 hotels in 80 countries and territories. The non-profit membership association of individually owned and operated properties welcomes your patronize by calling (800) WESTERN or visiting www.bestwestern.com