THE Williams team starts the 1999 season with its most inexperienced Formula 1 driver line-up since it launched into Grand Prix racing in 1978 - but Frank Williams is delighted.

Italian Indy Alex Zanardi, 31, has been confirmed as the man who will lead the Williams Formula 1 title charge next season, linking up with the prodigious talent of Germany's Ralf Schumacher.

Williams is delighted with his dual capture. He said: "We believe we have a very strong line-up for the 1999 season. Both drivers will bring their own qualities to the team.

"We are excited at the prospect of welcoming a second 'transatlantic' champion to the team in Alex, and Ralf is showing great potential. We strongly believe that he has a remarkable career ahead of him.

"They are both 'racers' and should be good competition for each other.

Zanardi has brought the curtain down on an amazing three-year IndyCar career - with a huge endorsement from the team he is leaving.

He will be sorely missed at Target/Chip Ganassi Racing, with whom he has re-written the CART record books.

He won Rookie of the Year in 1996 and has followed up with successive title crowns, wrapping up this year's triumph in Vancouver on September 6, with four races of the series still remaining. In 48 races, Zanardi has posted 14 victories and 25 podium finishes. He has reached the 14-win plateau faster than any driver in CART history and is one of only two men to record back-to-back titles.

"Alex has been a great driver, a fantastic team-mate, a good student and teacher and a great friend over the last three seasons and we'll all miss him very much," said team owner Chip Ganassi.

"While we are sad to see him Alex go, we're also happy for him and his new opportunity."

IndyCar champion Zanardi and Schumacher will be expected to restore the fortunes of the Williams team, who have slipped behind McLaren and Ferrari over the past year.

And for Schumacher, it offers the unprecedented chance to compete on an equal footing with big brother Michael, who is scrapping it out with Mika Hakkinen for this season's driver's title. With outgoing world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who also joined Williams from the IndyCar series, and Heinz-Harald Frentzen both leaving at the end of the season, it means Frank Williams' operation will start the new year with a clean slate.

But Schumacher is confident he can rise to the challenge.

"I am very proud that one of the most successful teams in Formula One has decided to sign me," he said.

"Along with Alex I hope we can return Williams to the front of the grand prix grid.

"I don't know Alex personally but I've watched a lot of CART racing over the past year and I must say that he has impressed me a lot with his driving, I'm looking forward to working with him."

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