garyshell
3rd November 2011, 15:56
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has ordered two Dallara DW12 chassis with the intention of fielding a team in next year's IndyCar Series. A team spokesman confirmed, however, that the extent and the details of the program remain undefined.
The team has not run a full schedule in IndyCars since 2008, when Ryan Hunter-Reay scored its most recent victory at Watkins Glen. But it has been a fixture at Indianapolis since then, and led this year's Indy 500 with Bertrand Baguette before being forced to make a late fuel stop. Team co-owner Bobby Rahal has always stated that his ambition was to return to the category if he could put together a deal that made a competitive package viable.
A team spokesman confirmed that "things are in motion" regarding an IndyCar program, which is expected to feature Honda engines, but that the driver lineup remains uncertain.
"We have purchased chassis, we are very close on an engine deal for 2012, we are not as close on a driver lineup," he said. "We have been talking to drivers, and our intent is to put together a quality program for next year both in IndyCar and to defend our ALMS GT championship, but nothing is confirmed yet."
RLLR also runs BMW's Motorsport program in the ALMS GT class, which scooped the drivers' with Joey Hand and Dirk Muller, as well as the teams titles, this year.
This article originally appeared in Autosport.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95866)
Rahal team confirms it's purchased two Dallara DW12s - Racer.com (http://www.racer.com/rahal-team-confirms-its-purchased-two-dallara-dw12s/article/215899/?DCMP=EMC-RACER_DAILY)
Gary
The team has not run a full schedule in IndyCars since 2008, when Ryan Hunter-Reay scored its most recent victory at Watkins Glen. But it has been a fixture at Indianapolis since then, and led this year's Indy 500 with Bertrand Baguette before being forced to make a late fuel stop. Team co-owner Bobby Rahal has always stated that his ambition was to return to the category if he could put together a deal that made a competitive package viable.
A team spokesman confirmed that "things are in motion" regarding an IndyCar program, which is expected to feature Honda engines, but that the driver lineup remains uncertain.
"We have purchased chassis, we are very close on an engine deal for 2012, we are not as close on a driver lineup," he said. "We have been talking to drivers, and our intent is to put together a quality program for next year both in IndyCar and to defend our ALMS GT championship, but nothing is confirmed yet."
RLLR also runs BMW's Motorsport program in the ALMS GT class, which scooped the drivers' with Joey Hand and Dirk Muller, as well as the teams titles, this year.
This article originally appeared in Autosport.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95866)
Rahal team confirms it's purchased two Dallara DW12s - Racer.com (http://www.racer.com/rahal-team-confirms-its-purchased-two-dallara-dw12s/article/215899/?DCMP=EMC-RACER_DAILY)
Gary