<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND INCOME STATEMENT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2001 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <CASH> 40,081 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 437,424 <ALLOWANCES> 4,945 <INVENTORY> 436,849 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 921,232 <PP&E> 200,909 <DEPRECIATION> 97,546 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,259,603 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 312,291 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 143,750 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,388 <OTHER-SE> 342,422 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,259,603 <SALES> 1,389,931 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,389,931 <CGS> 1,177,694 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,333,639 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (471) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 15,933 <INCOME-PRETAX> 40,830 <INCOME-TAX> 15,940 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 21,936 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (470) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 21,466 <EPS-BASIC> .80 <EPS-DILUTED> .67