Rahal, Gigante extend sponsorship deal.

Team Rahal used the season-ending Mexico City GP to announce an multi-year extension to its sponsorship agreement with the Gigante Group, one of the leading self-service retail chains in Mexico, and sponsor Michel Jourdain Jr's Lola-Ford.

The extension is a continuation of the programme that started this season, and which has propelled Jourdain to his most productive CART season. The Mexican youngster only signed for Rahal just before the season began, but has since more than doubled his career points tally and set a new team record for consecutive points finishes.

"Our relationship with Team Rahal and Michel Jourdain Jr is one that we are very proud of," said Angel Losada, the president of the Gigante Group, "We have tried to take an innovative approach to our marketing and promotional efforts, and our partnership with Team Rahal has provided us with some unique opportunities. We are excited about continuing this successful programme and building with Michel and the two very successful Mexican races."

The Gigante Group is present in 63 cities in Mexico and Los Angeles, maintaining approximately 400 points of sale specialising in groceries, perishables and general merchandise. The company also has specialised restaurants, including Toks, specialist stores, such as Office Depot and Radio Shack, and a membership-driven wholesale club, PriceSmart, under its umbrella.

"We are pleased to continue this partnership with Gigante," said three-time CART champion and Team Rahal co-owner Bobby Rahal, "If you look at how effectively Gigante has activated this programme this year, you see a group that understands how to market themselves using CART. This is a group of individuals that continues to grow their business throughout Mexico and in the United States. The fact that they have chosen the international appeal of CART, a North American-based racing series, to continue to market their company speaks volumes about the appeal of CART."

Jourdain gave the Mexican fans, including several thousand attending the race courtesy of Gigante, something to cheer about when he led the latter stages of the Mexico City event in the closing stages. Only the need to make a mandatory pit-stop ended the run, and allowed former Rahal pilot Kenny Brack through to take the win.

"Being involved with Team Rahal and Gigante has been an amazing opportunity for me," Jourdain Jr said, "We have had some success on track this year and, now, with the continuation of the programme, we will have the opportunity to build on that success. I feel we have only begun to scratch the surface of what Team Rahal and Gigante can accomplish together, both on and off the track."

While many questioned Rahal's decision to hire Jourdain Jr as team-mate to veteran Jimmy Vasser, both he and co-owner, chat show host David Letterman, believe that the Mexican has done enough to silence the critics.

"It certainly has been great fun watching a young driver like Michel establish himself and Gigante as front-runners this season," Letterman said, "Team Rahal is unique in having developed longstanding partnerships with its sponsors over the years, and it comes as no surprise to me that this partnership continues to grow."