<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
         This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
         Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet and Condensed Consolidated
         Statement of Income filed as part of Form 10-Q and is qualified in its
         entirety by reference to such Form 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000
<CURRENCY>                        U.S.

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-29-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-02-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                          1
<CASH>                                              26,473
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      547,303
<ALLOWANCES>                                        25,627
<INVENTORY>                                        384,443
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 1,060,966
<PP&E>                                           1,964,412
<DEPRECIATION>                                   1,006,974
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   2,945,232
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              904,493
<BONDS>                                          1,719,569
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               653
<OTHER-SE>                                          74,817
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     2,945,232
<SALES>                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 3,501,137
<CGS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    3,183,360
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   104,401
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     6,170
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  70,518
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     98,499
<INCOME-TAX>                                        38,413
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 60,086
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        60,086
<EPS-BASIC>                                           $.66
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         $.62