From indycar.com
Graham Rahal will drive for a fourth team this season in the Honda Indy Toronto, but who's counting?
The 21-year-old Ohio native/resident would compete in 17 different cars if it meant he could drive the full IZOD IndyCar Series season. As it is, Rahal will return to Newman/Haas Racing and be behind the wheel of the No. 02 Quick Trim entry at Toronto this weekend. He'll also compete at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Infineon Raceway, Twin Ring Motegi, Chicagoland Speedway and in the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Rahal, the youngest race winner and pole sitter in series history, has lent his abilities to Sarah Fisher Racing (St. Petersburg, Barber, Long Beach), Rahal Letterman Racing (Indianapolis 500) and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (Iowa) -- the latter filling in for the injured Mike Conway.
Rahal transitioned to the IZOD IndyCar Series with Newman/Haas Racing in 2008. He won in his series debut on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., and finished 17th in the championship standings. Last year, Rahal improved to seventh in points off nine top-10 finishes (high of third at Richmond and Twin Ring Motegi). He also had two pole starts.
“It’s nice to be back with Newman/Haas Racing, a group that I have been with for so long and have a lot of fond memories with, and it’s also great to be reunited with Quick Trim who made this possible,” said Rahal of the diet system that was the primary sponsor of the No. 30 car for the Indy 500.
“Quick Trim really enjoyed their experience in May and we had a great run. We have been talking about this for a long time and I’m happy we were able to extend the deal. I’m looking forward to getting back in the car and back in the series. To know what I am going to be doing for the rest of the season feels so good. The plan is to go out there and pick up where we left off."
When Rahal joined Newman/Haas Racing in 2007 at the age of 18, he became the youngest driver to join the team and first true rookie. Previous drivers that were officially classified as rookies included Nigel Mansell, who joined the team as the reigning 1992 Formula One World Champion, and Sebastien Bourdais, who joined the team as the reigning 2002 Formula 3000 champion.
“We are delighted to have Graham back with the team,” said Carl Haas, co-founder of Newman/Haas Racing with Paul Newman. “He has been an important part of our team over the past few years and we are proud of the history-making results we have accomplished together. We are also looking forward to returning to a two-car team and all of the benefits it provides.”
Rahal will join Hideki Mutoh, who is in his first year with the team in the No. 06 Formula Dream Panasonic car, at Toronto.
Graham Rahal will drive for a fourth team this season in the Honda Indy Toronto, but who's counting?
The 21-year-old Ohio native/resident would compete in 17 different cars if it meant he could drive the full IZOD IndyCar Series season. As it is, Rahal will return to Newman/Haas Racing and be behind the wheel of the No. 02 Quick Trim entry at Toronto this weekend. He'll also compete at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Infineon Raceway, Twin Ring Motegi, Chicagoland Speedway and in the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Rahal, the youngest race winner and pole sitter in series history, has lent his abilities to Sarah Fisher Racing (St. Petersburg, Barber, Long Beach), Rahal Letterman Racing (Indianapolis 500) and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (Iowa) -- the latter filling in for the injured Mike Conway.
Rahal transitioned to the IZOD IndyCar Series with Newman/Haas Racing in 2008. He won in his series debut on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., and finished 17th in the championship standings. Last year, Rahal improved to seventh in points off nine top-10 finishes (high of third at Richmond and Twin Ring Motegi). He also had two pole starts.
“It’s nice to be back with Newman/Haas Racing, a group that I have been with for so long and have a lot of fond memories with, and it’s also great to be reunited with Quick Trim who made this possible,” said Rahal of the diet system that was the primary sponsor of the No. 30 car for the Indy 500.
“Quick Trim really enjoyed their experience in May and we had a great run. We have been talking about this for a long time and I’m happy we were able to extend the deal. I’m looking forward to getting back in the car and back in the series. To know what I am going to be doing for the rest of the season feels so good. The plan is to go out there and pick up where we left off."
When Rahal joined Newman/Haas Racing in 2007 at the age of 18, he became the youngest driver to join the team and first true rookie. Previous drivers that were officially classified as rookies included Nigel Mansell, who joined the team as the reigning 1992 Formula One World Champion, and Sebastien Bourdais, who joined the team as the reigning 2002 Formula 3000 champion.
“We are delighted to have Graham back with the team,” said Carl Haas, co-founder of Newman/Haas Racing with Paul Newman. “He has been an important part of our team over the past few years and we are proud of the history-making results we have accomplished together. We are also looking forward to returning to a two-car team and all of the benefits it provides.”
Rahal will join Hideki Mutoh, who is in his first year with the team in the No. 06 Formula Dream Panasonic car, at Toronto.