Dixon at Ganassi from Milwaukee.

Target Chip Ganassi Racing has rescued Scott Dixon from his PWR deal for the remainder of the 2002 season after sponsorship failed to materialise at the Kiwi's former team.

Dixon will team up with Kenny Brack and Bruno Junqueira, and drive the #44 Target Lola-Toyota at the Milwaukee Mile this weekend, and for the remainder of the campaign.

"There's no question that Scott is one of the most talented drivers in open-wheel racing today," team boss Chip Ganassi said, "One look at his resume and his performance on the track speaks for itself. He has proven that he can win races and championships, which is the reason why we signed him. Our goal this year is to win the CART championship and Scott gives us another legitimate shot of reaching that goal."

Dixon brings an impressive resume to the team. From 1994 to 2000, the 21-year old New Zealander won a championship in every racing series that he contested. Last year, Dixon captured the Jim Trueman Rookie of the Year award in the CART FedEx Championship series. He became the youngest winner - at 20 years and nine months - in major open-wheel racing history when he won his third career start at Nazareth last year. He also captured the 2000 Dayton Indy Lights Championship.

"It's great to be a part of Team Target," Dixon said, "This team has shown over the past decade that they know how to win races and that's what I'm all about - winning races. It's unfortunate that things didn't work out with PWR, but it's exciting to stay with the Toyota family. They have committed a lot of resources to building a world-class engine and I can't wait to get up to Milwaukee and begin this exciting new chapter in my career."

In 1994 - at the young age of 13 - he was granted a special licence to compete in the New Zealand Formula Vee Championship and took the title. In 1995, Dixon won the Formula Ford class II championship, winning 13 of the 14 races. The next year he stepped up in class and won the Formula Ford class I title. In 1998, Dixon won the Australian-based Formula Holden championship for Formula 3000 cars with five wins and five second-place finishes. In his second year of competition in the Dayton Indy Lights series in 2000, Dixon won six of the twelve races en route to his win in the championship. Dixon's goal is to keep his championship win streak intact this year.

"My goal this year is to win the championship and to help win the manufacturers title for Toyota," he confirmed, "I have two great team-mates in Kenny and Bruno. and I'm excited to be a part of such a great team. I have always been impressed with the success that this team has had in the past, and I'm honoured to have the opportunity to drive for them this year."

Dixon's place at PWR is expected to be handed to former team-mate Oriol Servia, who left the team last week following a similar lack of sponsorship.