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Bobby Rahal

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Bobby Rahal
Rahal in 2021
BornRobert Woodward Rahal
(1953-01-10) January 10, 1953 (age 71)
Medina, Ohio, U.S.
Championship titles
CART Championship Car (1986, 1987, 1992)
Major victories
24 Hours of Daytona (1981)
Indianapolis 500 (1986)
12 Hours of Sebring (1987)
Pocono 500 (1988)
Champ Car career
265 races run over 17 years
Best finish1st (1986, 1987, 1992)
First race1982 Kraco Car Stereo 150 (Phoenix)
Last race1998 Marlboro 500 (Fontana)
First win1982 Cleveland Grand Prix (Cleveland)
Last win1992 Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix (Nazareth)
Wins Podiums Poles
24 88 17
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityUnited States American
Active years1978
TeamsWolf
Entries2
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1978 United States Grand Prix
Last entry1978 Canadian Grand Prix
NASCAR Cup Series career
1 race run over 1 year
Best finish91st (1984)
First race1984 Winston Western 500 (Riverside)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years1980, 1982
TeamsBarbour, Garretson
Best finishDNF (1980, 1982)
Class wins0

Robert Woodward Rahal (/ˈreɪhɔːl/ RAY-hawl; born January 10, 1953) is an American former auto racing driver and current team co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing along with Mike Lanigan of Mi-Jack Products and Television Host David Letterman. As a driver he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500. He also won the Indianapolis 500 in 2004 and 2020 as team owner for Buddy Rice and Takuma Sato, respectively.

After retiring as a driver, Rahal held managerial positions with the Jaguar Formula 1 team and also was an interim president of the CART series. Rahal was also a sports car driver during the 1980s, and made one NASCAR start for the Wood Brothers.

Racing career

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And it was frigid. A very cold day, and the race long – long for me. The longest I'd done before that was a 100-mile Formula Atlantic race, and this was a 200-mile grand prix. I just wanted to get to the end and get to the next race. It was a workman-like debut.

Rahal, speaking about his Formula One debut at Watkins Glen[1]

Rahal began his career in SCCA feeder categories, eventually finishing second to Gilles Villeneuve in the 1977 Formula Atlantic championship. The following year, he competed in the 1978 New Zealand Grand Prix with Fred Opert Racing (Formula Pacific) and in European Formula Three with Wolf Racing. Near the end of the season, Rahal raced for the Wolf Formula 1 team in the 1978 United States Grand Prix and the 1978 Canadian Grand Prix.[1] The deal with Wolf did not continue into the 1979 season, as Wolf signed up James Hunt for the one and only car available. Rahal began the 1979 racing a Chevron in Formula Two, but returned to America mid-season and raced in the Can-Am series. During the next few seasons, he competed in various sports car events, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the IMSA GT Championship.

Rahal during the 1986 Indianapolis 500

In 1982, Rahal entered the CART Indy car series with the Truesports team, winning two races and finishing second in the championship behind Rick Mears. He continued racing for Truesports through the 1988 season, winning at least one race every year. In 1986, Rahal dramatically passed Kevin Cogan on a restart with two laps to go to win the Indianapolis 500, only days before his team owner, Jim Trueman died of cancer. Later that year, Rahal won his first CART championship, and successfully defended it the following year.

In 1988, Rahal won the last race the Truesports team ever won, the Quaker State 500 at Pocono, the first and only Indy car victory for the Judd engine.

During his CART career, Rahal also won races in IMSA and IROC. By 1989, Rahal had ended his occasional forays into sports car racing and focused solely on CART. He moved over to the Kraco race team, but this association produced only two wins over three seasons.

Rahal competed in one NASCAR race in his career. In November 1984 he drove the 7-11 sponsored Wood Brothers #21 Ford (substituting for Buddy Baker) to a 40th-place finish in the Winston Western 500 at Riverside International Speedway, completing only 44 laps before breaking a rear end gear.[2]

IndyCar owner

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Rahal driving for Team Rahal at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 1996

After losing the championship to Michael Andretti in 1991, Rahal (with partner Carl Hogan) acquired the assets to the former Pat Patrick Racing team, with Rahal becoming an owner-driver. The team was an immediate success in 1992, producing four wins for Rahal and his third CART championship, making him the last owner-driver to win the CART title, and the last driver to win a race with his own team until Adrian Fernandez did so in 2003. In 1993, Rahal attempted to develop his own Rahal-Hogan chassis, but reverted to the Lola chassis after failing to qualify for the 1993 Indianapolis 500. In 1994 the team brought the Honda engine into the CART series. Except for a second-place finish at Toronto, he and teammate Mike Groff struggled to show the full potential of an engine that would soon dominate the series. In 1995 at Long Beach Rahal became the 10th driver in Championship Car history (including AAA, USAC, and CART) to start 200 races in his career.[3] Despite no wins, Rahal finished a strong 3rd in the 1995 standings using the Mercedes engine.

Rahal continued as a racing driver until his retirement in 1998. Meanwhile, Hogan left to form his own team and talk show host David Letterman became a minority owner in 1996. The team became known as Team Rahal in 1996 and Rahal Letterman Racing in 2004, when Rahal switched from CART to the IRL full-time.

Other business roles

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In 2000, Rahal joined the Jaguar Formula One team in a managerial capacity. During this time, Rahal attempted to hire championship-winning aerodynamicist Adrian Newey, briefly believing that the deal had been completed, but was unsuccessful. However, Rahal was fired after reportedly attempting to sell driver Eddie Irvine to rivals Jordan.[4] Ironically, the team fired Irvine little more than a year after firing Rahal, while Newey joined in 2006, a year after the team was sold to Red Bull.

Rahal was the interim President and CEO of CART for six months during the 2000 season.

His business interests include Bobby Rahal Automotive Group, a network of car dealerships in western and central Pennsylvania selling Acura, BMW, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Volvo.

In 2021, Rahal began to venture into race promoting with the help of former IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George.[5] Rahal's first move in race promotion was to return the popular Iowa Speedway round to IndyCar after it had been left off of the 2021 calendar. Rahal was able to recruit Iowa supermarket chain Hy-Vee as a sponsor and secured a multi year agreement between IndyCar and Iowa Speedway to run a double header event at the track starting in 2022.[6]

Awards

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Tribute

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At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the back straight leading up to the corkscrew was named the "Rahal Straight" in his honor.

Personal life

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He is the son of Barbara and Michael Rahal (1924-2017) who raced autos for over two decades.[10][11] His father is of Lebanese descent and his mother is of English descent.[12] His father owned a wholesale food distribution business.[10] Rahal was raised in the Chicago suburb of Glen Ellyn and attended Glenbard West High School as class of 1971. Rahal is a graduate of Denison University,[12] where his father also graduated.[10]

Rahal formerly lived in New Albany, Ohio. He now lives in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. His son is Graham Rahal, who races in the IndyCar Series.[11]

Rahal owns a 1975 Lola T360 which he occasionally races at vintage racing events.

In 2023, Rahal had knee surgery which he is currently recovering from.

Motorsports career results

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SCCA National Championship Runoffs

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Year Track Car Engine Class Finish Start Status
1974 Road Atlanta Lola T290 Ford B Sports Racing 3 3 Running
1975 Road Atlanta March 75B Ford Formula B 1 2 Running
1977 Road Atlanta March 75B Ford Formula B 18 1 Retired

Complete Formula One World Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position / Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Formula One results
Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 WDC Pts
1978 Walter Wolf Racing Wolf WR5 Ford Cosworth 3.0 V8 ARG BRA RSA USW MON BEL ESP SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA
12 		NC 0
Wolf WR1 CAN
Ret

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Formula Two results
Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos. Pts
1979 Chevron Racing Team Chevron B48 Hart SIL
4 		HOC
7 		THR
5 		NÜR
Ret 		VAL
4 		MUG
6 		PAU
Ret 		HOC
6 		ZAN
Ret 		PER
Ret 		MIS
7 		DON 11th 10

American Open Wheel Racing

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

PPG Indy Car Series

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PPG Indy Car Series results
Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Rank Points Ref
1982 Truesports Co. March 82C Cosworth DFX V8t PHX
18 		ATL MIL
20 		CLE
1 		MCH
3 		MIL
2 		POC
3 		RIV
15 		ROA
3 		MCH
1 		PHX
5 		2nd 242 [13]
1983 Truesports Co. March 83C Cosworth DFX V8t ATL
21 		INDY
20 		MIL
6 		CLE
19 		MCH
5 		ROA
10 		POC
5 		RIV
1 		MCH
2 		PHX
DNS 		5th 94 [14]
Chevrolet V8 MDO
3 		CPL
9 		LAG
7
1984 Truesports Co. March 84C Cosworth DFX V8t LBH
14 		PHX
7 		INDY
7 		MIL
14 		POR
14 		MEA
11 		CLE
14 		MCH
18 		ROA
2 		POC
3 		MDO
2 		SAN
2 		MCH
5 		PHX
1 		LAG
1 		CPL
7 		3rd 137 [15]
1985 Truesports Co. March 85C Cosworth DFX V8t LBH
27 		INDY
27 		MIL
9 		POR
20 		MEA
25 		CLE
28 		MCH
6 		ROA
4 		POC
4 		MDO
1 		SAN
10 		MCH
1 		LAG
1 		PHX
6 		MIA
2 		3rd 133 [16]
1986 Truesports Co. March 86C Cosworth DFX V8t PHX
16 		LBH
18 		INDY
1 		MIL
6 		POR
20 		MEA
3 		CLE
15 		TOR
1 		MCH
10 		POC
14 		MDO
1 		SAN
1 		MCH
1 		ROA
5 		LAG
1 		PHX
3 		MIA
8 		1st 179 [17]
1987 Truesports Co. Lola T87/00 Cosworth DFX V8t LBH
24 		PHX
2 		INDY
26 		MIL
2 		POR
1 		MEA
1 		CLE
2 		TOR
3 		MCH
3 		POC
5 		ROA
23 		MDO
2 		NAZ
2 		LAG
1 		MIA
7 		1st 188 [18]
1988 Truesports Co. Lola T88/00 Judd AV V8t PHX
16 		LBH
2 		INDY
5 		MIL
6 		POR
12 		CLE
2 		TOR
5 		MEA
5 		MCH
2 		POC
1 		MDO
18 		ROA
2 		NAZ
12 		LAG
4 		MIA
18 		3rd 136 [19]
1989 Kraco Racing Lola T89/00 Cosworth DFS V8t PHX
18 		LBH
4 		INDY
26 		MIL
13 		DET
18 		POR
2 		CLE
3 		MEA
1 		TOR
19 		MCH
9 		POC
6 		MDO
22 		ROA
28 		NAZ
7 		LAG
6 		9th 88 [20]
1990 Galles-Kraco Racing Lola T90/00 Chevrolet 265A V8t PHX
2 		LBH
12 		INDY
2 		MIL
4 		DET
2 		POR
11 		CLE
2 		MEA
25 		TOR
22 		MCH
2 		DEN
3 		VAN
8 		MDO
6 		ROA
7 		NAZ
3 		LAG
5 		4th 153 [21]
1991 Galles-Kraco Racing Lola T91/00 Chevrolet 265A V8t SRF
2 		LBH
2 		PHX
2 		INDY
19 		MIL
4 		DET
2 		POR
3 		CLE
3 		MEA
1 		TOR
3 		MCH
11 		DEN
20 		VAN
2 		MDO
3 		ROA
4 		NAZ
2 		LAG
24 		2nd 200 [22]
1992 Rahal-Hogan Racing Lola T92/00 Chevrolet 265A V8t SRF
3 		PHX
1 		LBH
2 		INDY
6 		DET
1 		POR
14 		MIL
2 		NHA
1 		TOR
2 		MCH
11 		CLE
4 		ROA
3 		VAN
22 		MDO
24 		NAZ
1 		LAG
3 		1st 196 [23]
1993 Rahal-Hogan Racing Rahal-Hogan RH-001 Chevrolet 265C V8t SRF
6 		PHX
22 		LBH
2 		INDY
DNQ 		4th 133 [24]
Lola T93/00 MIL
4 		DET
5 		POR
4 		CLE
28 		TOR
4 		MCH
9 		NHA
7 		ROA
3 		VAN
2 		MDO
6 		NAZ
6 		LAG
7
1994 Rahal-Hogan Racing Lola T94/00 Honda HRX V8t SRF
26 		PHX
14 		LBH
30 		MIL
7 		DET
6 		POR
12 		CLE
28 		TOR
2 		MCH
28 		MDO
27 		NHA
9 		VAN
7 		ROA
9 		NAZ
14 		LAG
29 		10th 59 [25]
Penske PC-22 Ilmor 265D V8t INDY
3
1995 Rahal-Hogan Racing Lola T95/00 Mercedes-Benz IC108B V8t MIA
3 		SRF
2 		PHX
21 		LBH
21 		NAZ
6 		INDY
3 		MIL
13 		DET
24 		POR
3 		ROA
5 		TOR
2 		CLE
4 		MCH
8 		MDO
26 		NHA
10 		VAN
5 		LAG
7 		3rd 128 [26]
1996 Team Rahal Reynard 96i Mercedes-Benz IC108C V8t MIA
5 		RIO
6 		SRF
20 		LBH
14 		NAZ
6 		500
19 		MIL
7 		DET
21 		POR
6 		CLE
15 		TOR
3 		MCH
24 		MDO
5 		ROA
2 		VAN
2 		LAG
7 		7th 102 [27]
1997 Team Rahal Reynard 97i Ford XD V8t MIA
16 		SRF
10 		LBH
10 		NAZ
6 		RIO
10 		GAT
20 		MIL
11 		DET
9 		POR
24 		CLE
5 		TOR
9 		MCH
17 		MDO
3 		ROA
6 		VAN
24 		LAG
19 		FON
5 		12th 70 [28]
1998 Team Rahal Reynard 98i Ford XD V8t MIA
19 		MOT
17 		LBH
17 		NAZ
6 		RIO
8 		GAT
8 		MIL
5 		DET
11 		POR
6 		CLE
8 		TOR
4 		MCH
7 		MDO
3 		ROA
8 		VAN
25 		LAG
16 		HOU
23 		SRF
25 		FON
11 		10th 82 [29]

Indianapolis 500 results

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Rahal during the 1986 Indy 500
Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
1982 March Cosworth 17th 11th Truesports
1983 March Cosworth 6th 20th Truesports
1984 March Cosworth 18th 7th Truesports
1985 March Cosworth 3rd 27th Truesports
1986 March Cosworth 4th 1st Truesports
1987 Lola Cosworth 2nd 26th Truesports
1988 Lola Judd 19th 5th Truesports
1989 Lola Cosworth 7th 26th Kraco
1990 Lola Chevrolet 4th 2nd Galles/Kraco
1991 Lola Chevrolet 4th 19th Galles/Kraco
1992 Lola Chevrolet 10th 6th Rahal/Hogan
1993 Rahal Chevrolet Failed to Qualify Rahal/Hogan
1994 Penske Ilmor 28th 3rd Rahal/Hogan
1995 Lola Ilmor-Mercedes 21st 3rd Rahal/Hogan

NASCAR

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(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

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NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 NWCC Pts Ref
1984 Wood Brothers Racing 21 Ford DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD POC MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR ATL RSD
40 		91st 43 [30]

24 Hours of Le Mans results

[edit]
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1980 United States Dick Barbour Racing United States Bob Garretson
Canada Allan Moffat 		Porsche 935 K3 IMSA 134 DNF DNF
1982 United States Garretson Developments United States Skeeter McKitterick
United States Jim Trueman 		March 82G C 28 DNF DNF

References

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  1. ^ a b Pruett, Marshall (December 11, 2015). "Reflections: 1978 Formula 1 at Watkins Glen". racer.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  2. ^ "1984 Winston Western 500". racing-reference.info. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  3. ^ ChampCarStats.com
  4. ^ "Lauda Criticises Rahal over Irvine Offer to Jordan". Atlas F1. Autosport.com. August 28, 2001. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  5. ^ Martin, Bruce (August 7, 2021). "George & Rahal Discuss Iowa Speedway". Speed Sport. Turn 3 media. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  6. ^ IndyCar. "NTT INDYCAR SERIES RETURNS TO IOWA FOR 2022 DOUBLEHEADER". IndyCar.com. IndyCar Group. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  7. ^ Bobby Rahal at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
  8. ^ Lewandowski, Dave (January 8, 2013). "Notes: Rahal among five elected to SCCA Hall". IndyCar. Archived from the original on January 12, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
  9. ^ "Bobby Rahal to receive Simeone Spirit of Competition Award/". www.hemmings.com. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  10. ^ a b c Goldsborough, Bob (2017). "Amateur racer inspired Indy 500-winning son". The Chicago Tribune.
  11. ^ a b Cavin, Curt (August 20, 2012). "Family Playground: Mid-Ohio is home for the Rahals". Autoweek. 62 (17): 60–61.
  12. ^ a b Glick, Shav (April 13, 1988). "A New Driving Force : Bobby Rahal Switches to Judd Engine in Bid for Third Straight Indy Car Title". The Los Angeles Times. Rahal, the son of an English mother and a Lebanese father, graduated from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, with a degree in history.
  13. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1982 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  14. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1983 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  15. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1984 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  16. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1985 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  17. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1986 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  18. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1987 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  19. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1988 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  20. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1989 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  21. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1990 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  22. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1991 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  23. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1992 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  24. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1993 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  25. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1994 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  26. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1995 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  27. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1996 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  28. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1997 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  29. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1998 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  30. ^ "Bobby Rahal – 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
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