Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing driver Graham Rahal, 19, will not compete in the IndyCar Series season opener this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway after his team was unable to repair damage to his car in time.NHL didn’t dominate Champ CART all those years by being stupid. Rahal is undoubtedly the most recognizable name on the refugee list, so even if the team were able to cobble a car together it would make little sense to throw an unproven oval driver into an untested car. Bad things can happen at Homestead, and this timeout for Graham is undoubtedly the best option for him, his team and the entire league.
Rahal, the son of three-time CART champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, damaged one of the team's new Dallara chassis in a crash at Homestead on Tuesday night during the final day of a two-day test for Champ Car teams switching to the Indy Racing League. Because former Champ Car teams just recently took delivery of their new equipment, spare parts are at a premium. A Newman/Haas/Lanigan statement said that the team will focus on rebuilding Rahal's car for a test at Sebring International Raceway on April 1, prior to the St. Petersburg street race on April 6.
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Also, Champ Car fans lamented last year how Graham's age was constantly mentioned by the media, so don't feel alone if you begin to wonder if his name is in fact "Graham Rahal, 19".
The real question might become how many can make St Pete if we have significant damage Saturday night. If parts really are the culprit, will a couple extra days be enough to make a difference?
ReplyDeleteThankfully this is just growing pains, by Indy all of this should be behind us.
edmund,
ReplyDeleteI'm sure most of those teams will be under fairly explicit orders to run wherever they need to so as not to break the car. Remember, everyone outside of the Top 5 gets paid the same no matter where they finish.
I recall reading a remark by TG shortly after they announced the merger, in which he said that Dallara was really working to crank out chassis, with the influx of new teams. They would not be ready for the start of the year, but I seem to remember Kansas, and if not, then Milwaukee, being mentioned as the date of shipment. I doubt they're running into problems like this and NOT having Dallara build new tubs.
ReplyDeleteso don't feel alone if you begin to wonder if his name is in fact "Graham Rahal, 19".
ReplyDeleteHey nineteen
No we can't race together
No you can't turn at all
Don't take me along
When you hit the wall
Jeff,
ReplyDeleteI feel the need to once again point out Marty and Jay don't seem to have a nickname. Just sayin'
Jay's on the sidebar ("Hot Rod") and Marty was discussed earlier this week. Some say he goes by "The Rocket" but I prefer "Moto Marty" instead.
ReplyDeleteAH...thanks for the correction. Until the tests this week I would have suggested Marty "Ryhmes with Sloth" Roth, but...
ReplyDelete