Thoughts of senior year Spring Break conjure up great memories of sleeping in, relaxation and beaches for many teenagers but for 18-year old New Albany (Ohio) High School senior Graham Rahal the learning continues - and at a pace approaching 180 mph. source: champcarworldseries.com Although he isn't old enough to gamble or even rent a car, Rahal will be enjoying his Spring Break in Las Vegas where he will pilot his No. 2 Medi | Zone race car in his Champ Car World Series debut in the season-opening Vegas Grand Prix, April 6-8. "For me and for the Medi | Zone team to go into the Las Vegas race weekend is going to be very difficult," said Rahal, who will make his series debut with Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing (NHLR) as a teammate to three-time series champion Sebastien Bourdais. "It's the first race of the season, it's my first race in a Champ Car, it's a new track and we've got a new car. I certainly believe our team is the best prepared for Las Vegas and I think that, for all of us, it's going to be a learning experience. "All we need to do is cover all the bases that we know how to cover and we've done that. Not only just in Las Vegas but the first three races are going to be a learning experience to see what we have to do to make it through all three because that's going to be a huge part of the season." Rahal finished second in the Champ Car Atlantic championship in 2006 after a title hunt that concluded in the season finale. He earned a series-high five wins (42 percent), four poles (33 percent) and six podium finishes in the 12 events and at 17 years old was the youngest race winner in series history. During 2006 he also participated in other series including the A1 GP, IndyPro Series and 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring sports car races. Prior to the season-opener in Las Vegas he has tested the Cosworth-DP01-Bridgestone race car in Sebring, Fla., Houston and Monterey, Calif. and was second fastest in the Houston test. Although Rahal is ready for many "firsts" this weekend, he would deem a top-five result a success. "To finish up front is important for points and it's important for me," said Rahal whose 3.8 grade point average shows that he is a successful multi-tasker. "Obviously I would love to go to Las Vegas and win the race -- what else can you ask for? At the same time I need to be realistic about it and to finish in the top-five is really my goal. I don't see a reason why we can't finish in the top-five. "I've never driven one of these things on a street circuit. I've never had to qualify these cars under pressure. I've never had to do pit stops or any of this stuff so it will be a learning experience." Rahal won't be the only driver taking to the streets of downtown Las Vegas for the first time. It will be the first time the series has raced on the 2.44-mile street course along popular Fremont Street, the first street to be paved in the city in 1925. Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) ran events at Caesars Palace casino in 1983 and '84 on a 1.125-mile temporary oval that was constructed in the parking lot of the casino.
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