Father and son ties to the Indianapolis 500 run deep, and the latest Rahal family entry has written its own victorious history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.Graham Rahal, the youngest race winner in Indy Racing League history, will drive in the Indianapolis 500 on May 30 for the team co-owned by his father – who won the 1986 race as a driver and 2004 race as a team owner.
Team owner Bobby Rahal who competed a total of 13 times (his final two races finishing 3rd) in the Indy 500 race commented:
"I am thrilled that Graham is joining us for the Indianapolis 500. To have watched his career grow from the first day in karts and now to be there side-by-side with him as he tries to win Indy for himself and for our team is a dream come true for me."
Rahal will drive the No. 30 car (a number associated with Arie Luyendyk's 1990 victory in the 500 Mile Race), with a primary sponsor announcement expected next week. Why 30 and not the No. 17 listed on the original entry list? Consider the divider: Bobby Rahal won the ’86 race in the No. 3 car and two of his CART championships in Nos. 9 and 12 cars. Buddy Rice won the 2004 race for Rahal Letterman Racing in the No. 15 car.
Graham Rahal, who has been also rumoured as the future F1 American driver commented:
"I am extremely excited to be racing with my father and with this team. I have known a lot of the guys on this team since I was very young and to go after the dream of winning Indianapolis with them means a lot to me and my family. I know we can put together a quality effort and we expect to be competitive."
Rahal Letterman Racing, which is co-owned by TV personality David Letterman, began competition in 1992. Along with Rice winning from the pole position in ’04, the next year Danica Patrick was named Indy 500 (leading 32 laps and finishing fourth) and the series’ Rookie of the Year. Ryan Hunter-Reay repeated the feat in 2007 (finishing sixth at Indianapolis).
Family participation in the Indianapolis 500 is deep – from the Andrettis (Mario, Michael, Marco, Jeff, John) to the Bettenhausens (Tony, Gary, Merle, Tony Lee) and the Unsers (Louis, Jerry, Bobby, Al, Al Jr., Johnny, Robby).
