Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s expansion to a three-car full-time program in the NTT IndyCar Series this season is a clear sign to the sports big three teams. Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti Autosport to watch out.
Rahal has expanded their program with the arrival of not one, but two new drivers with Christian Lundgaard and Jack Harvey joining Graham Rahal at the team.
Rahal has also invested heavily in their new race shop in Zionsville, Indiana which will house all of their racing operations and signals the team’s intention to get to the front and to challenge for wins and championships on a regular basis.
The team announced on Friday that Graham Rahal will once again be sponsored by One Cure and speaking about the news, Dr. Christine Hardy, One Cure program lead said:
Thanks to an anonymous Colorado-based philanthropist, we are thrilled to continue Racing for One Cure in the INDYCAR SERIES with Team RLL’s Graham Rahal. In the race for a better tomorrow for all cancer patients – animal and human – we couldn’t have better partners, The team owners, and Graham and his wife Courtney, have visited the Flint Animal Cancer Center to see the work that benefits animals and humans. We would like to extend a special thanks to the Graham and Courtney Rahal Foundation and their associates for their continued support. Their generosity has helped fund our clinical trials team and a clinical trial that is enrolling children with advanced bone cancer at Children’s Hospitals in Denver and Atlanta. We hope this new treatment will benefit kids in the same way it has benefitted dogs.
Graham Rahal, driver of the No.15 One Cure Honda said:
“I am extremely proud of our association with One Cure. “It’s become a great mission for all of us to raise awareness and money for this great cause and to help find a cure for cancer. The passion that we’ve been able to fuel on the track, as well as through our foundation events that all our team partners have supported, has been nothing short of amazing. We’ve been able to help Dr. Rod Page (the center’s director), and all of the staff at One Cure get the resources they need to battle cancer, something that impacts everyone.”
Christian Lundgaard who impressed on his debut for Rahal last season will be a driver to watch this season as he embarks on his full-time debut in the NTT IndyCar Series and speaking at the time of joining the team for 2022 he said:
I’m very excited to join Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in INDYCAR. They are a fantastic team who made me feel very welcome earlier this year when I made my debut in the series. They are the perfect choice and I’m happy to join them on this next chapter in my career. I was very much open-minded when I raced at Indianapolis in August and the experience then only grew my hunger to give it another go, so to have the opportunity as a full-time professional racing driver is a privilege. I can only thank Bobby, Piers and the team, as well as my investors and Alpine for putting it all together. I’m determined to repay that faith with on-track performances beginning when the season starts in February. Of course, this will be a completely new challenge for me, especially with oval racing, which I’ve never done before. I’d like to think I’m a fast learner, so taking this on is going to be an awesome experience. For now, I’m not setting too many expectations other than working hard and enjoying the racing and hopefully the results will follow. For now, though, my focus is on finishing the Formula 2 Championship before fully committing to taking on INDYCAR. I can’t wait for the experience to begin.”
Jack Harvey arrives at the team from Meyer Shank Racing and will drive the No.45 Hy-Vee Honda after the grocery store chain expanded their involvement with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and indeed the NTT IndyCar Series with the races in Iowa this season.
Speaking at the time of him joining Rahal, Jack Harvey said;
I’m incredibly excited to be joining Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. I’ve been working towards this moment for my entire career and I’m so honored and thankful for the trust Bobby, Mike, David and Piers (Phillips, president) have placed in me. Hy-Vee has massively committed to elevating INDYCAR as a series and I’m honored to be representing their brand on track in the No. 45. I’m eager to get to work with Graham and the entire team. We have common goals of competing for wins and championships, and I’m confident we’ll be contending from the drop of the green flag next year. This is an exciting next chapter, and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead.
Ben's News Round-Up 