Rahal and Rahal...oh, oh.

[booger]

So the worst kept secret in Indycar is pretty much fact. Graham will drive for Bobby. Um, I hope this isn't another of the "here we go again" with daddy backing sonny. Oh, their pr machine is trying to make it look like it's all on the professional up and up, but the fact is that this is another example of nepotism at it's finest. Graham lost his sponsor. Gnassi gave him the hook when he couldn't come up with a check (his results were also pitiful) and off we go again with daddy picking up the tab to keep the kid's career alive. I just hope it isn't another "Michael and Marco" show, but I guess we'll see, won't we?

[GRW1983]

So the worst kept secret in Indycar is pretty much fact. Graham will drive for Bobby. Um, I hope this isn't another of the "here we go again" with daddy backing sonny. Oh, their pr machine is trying to make it look like it's all on the professional up and up, but the fact is that this is another example of nepotism at it's finest. Graham lost his sponsor. Gnassi gave him the hook when he couldn't come up with a check (his results were also pitiful) and off we go again with daddy picking up the tab to keep the kid's career alive. I just hope it isn't another "Michael and Marco" show, but I guess we'll see, won't we?

You could be right, but then again, there were a few occasions when Rahal had a, potentially, race-winning car and Sato stuffed it into the wall. Maybe Graham could be the difference between winning and crashing. Texas last year being an exception!!!

[Chris R]

I think time will tell. I do not think the Ganassi situation was quite as one sided as you spelled out. I also think that Graham has showed himself to be somewhat more competitive than Marco. I also think Graham might think he is better than he really is. Last but not least though, I do not think he has found a "home" since NHR and right now going to the family team offers the best opportunity to find a home that will allow him to fully develop and potentially flourish as a driver.

That being said - I would say this is his last chance now....

[bugeyedgomer]

He should have gone to Europe

[00steven]

BOLD PREDICTION, Graham will win the Indianapolis 500 this year.

[garyshell]

BOLD PREDICTION, Graham will win the Indianapolis 500 this year.

And if he does David Letterman will be in the winner's circle and in tears.

Gary

[NY2IA]

And if he does David Letterman will be in the winner's circle and in tears.

Gary

Shall we start the Top Ten list of things overheard in the winner's circle when Graham Rahal wins the Indy 500?

[bugeyedgomer]

Shall we start the Top Ten list of things overheard in the winner's circle when Graham Rahal wins the Indy 500?
This is reminiscent of Ed Carpenter's spectacular vitory in the first Freedom 100

[loowisham]

If Conor Daly fails to make F1 he will be an Indycar driver with his father's backing. I for one don't feel any angst where Bobby stepping in to give a ride to his son.
Take the father son aspect out and this is a fine team. Sato ran well all season. However, he is overly aggressive.
Graham has already won and raced for two teams other than his dad's. What about Marco? Do you feel he would still have a ride if not for the name. His record is akin to the great Danica.

[garyshell]

If Conor Daly fails to make F1 he will be an Indycar driver with his father's backing. I for one don't feel any angst where Bobby stepping in to give a ride to his son.
Take the father son aspect out and this is a fine team. Sato ran well all season. However, he is overly aggressive.
Graham has already won and raced for two teams other than his dad's. What about Marco? Do you feel he would still have a ride if not for the name. His record is akin to the great Danica.

Except that Marco actually tries to race other drivers rather than cruising around playing it safe like a certain princess did during her stint in Indycar. He's not great nut he's one hell of a lot more of a racer than the princess who's name shall not be spoken.

Gary

[Chris R]

Except that Marco actually tries to race other drivers rather than cruising around playing it safe like a certain princess did during her stint in Indycar. He's not great nut he's one hell of a lot more of a racer than the princess who's name shall not be spoken.

Gary

one could argue "Lady Voldemort" was smart enough to play to her strengths and as a result got significantly more consistent & overall better results than Marco... Exciting she was not - but she did produce results in much the same way as many "greats" have - consistency and staying out of trouble - I would argue she got as much or more out of her talent than any driver could....

all that being said, I am no Danica fan - but she didn't get in above her head and Marco could use some of the same common sense from time to time... The fact is that neither have he overall talent to be much more than they are.....

[Mark in Oshawa]

Graham won 2 races for other teams, and has on occasion looked really racy. At other times, he has looked dumb. Young drivers do that. Marco has done it. Graham and Marco have similar records, but Graham has been with two teams.

Is it wrong for Bobby to put his own on son on his team? Hell it isn't wrong. The kid has some talent at least.

As for the Danica comparisions, both Marco and Graham have one more victory, less starts and show some ability to want to mix it up. Enough....she is gone...somewhere...last I heard she was driving a cab or something...

[loowisham]

Except that Marco actually tries to race other drivers rather than cruising around playing it safe like a certain princess did during her stint in Indycar. He's not great nut he's one hell of a lot more of a racer than the princess who's name shall not be spoken.

Gary

Can't disagree with you there Gary. Nice to be making $8-$9 million per year driving in the manner you said but being the darling of the series.
I suppose she is making even more now. Herself--- the namelss one.

[Jag_Warrior]

I'm not entirely convinced that Conor would come to IndyCar if he failed to get into F1 on the first try. I could just as easily see him staying in Europe and doing DTM. The money is at least as good as in IndyCar and as long as he's still youngish, that series offers a pathway into F1 - while IndyCar no longer does.

[rolinchicane]

I'm not entirely convinced that Conor would come to IndyCar if he failed to get into F1 on the first try. I could just as easily see him staying in Europe and doing DTM. The money is at least as good as in IndyCar and as long as he's still youngish, that series offers a pathway into F1 - while IndyCar no longer does.


I believe Daly is out of F1 size money. His only hope at this point is to find a decent Lights team or Indycar team looking to run him real cheap. FIL would be a step back at this point.

[FIAT1]

Except that Marco actually tries to race other drivers rather than cruising around playing it safe like a certain princess did during her stint in Indycar. He's not great nut he's one hell of a lot more of a racer than the princess who's name shall not be spoken.

Gary

Princess had more guts and balls than next generation chosen two, and half of the field combined. We should give it a rest already I think, and for Rahal I wish him the best but I don't see nothing here but safety net for midiocre driver.

[garyshell]

Princess had more guts and balls than next generation chosen two, and half of the field combined. We should give it a rest already I think, and for Rahal I wish him the best but I don't see nothing here but safety net for midiocre driver.

Huh? Are we talking about the same princess?

Gary

[FIAT1]

Huh? Are we talking about the same princess?

Gary

Yes!!!

[jarrambide]

Yes!!!

Katherine Legge?, Because getting on car after Road America takes real guts not everyone has, other than that, I can't think of another princess with lots of guts.

[heliocastroneves#3]

Graham Rahal might ever win the Indianapolis 500 but I'll put my money on Ed Carpenter for next years' 500 though. :)

[FIAT1]

Katherine Legge?, Because getting on car after Road America takes real guts not everyone has, other than that, I can't think of another princess with lots of guts.

I was at that race ,and that is definitely something to be admired.

[bricarr2]

I wrote something of a historical perspective on young Rahal. Check out the AR1 home page.

[Spafranco]

I was at that race ,and that is definitely something to be admired.

I was there too. First sight of the DP01 WITH Moreno driving. CHAMP car was and is so much better than INDYCAR IMHO

[Spafranco]

Katherine was so lucky. She had more car damage than Dan.

[Spafranco]

Who will be Graham's sponsor?

[FIAT1]

Who will be Graham's sponsor?

Dad.

[heliocastroneves#3]

I was there too. First sight of the DP01 WITH Moreno driving. CHAMP car was and is so much better than INDYCAR IMHO
CART was quite good but Champ Car was a big joke but everyone has rights to post their own opinion of course...

[bricarr2]

I agree that by the time Champ Car came along, the IRL had gained the upper hand in the Senseless Civil War.

But the DP01 was an unfortunate victim of the merger. And since they seem committed to this spec nonsense, the DP01 should have been what they used last year. It would have saved a lot of the start up costs, and parts non-sense they had last year. Plus, it looks so much better.

[FIAT1]

CART was quite good but Champ Car was a big joke but everyone has rights to post their own opinion of course...

Same bunch of jokers is in Indycar now ,except they are stuck with ugly ,slow sh.t car in comparison to Champcar. My opinion of course.

[FIAT1]

I was there too. First sight of the DP01 WITH Moreno driving. CHAMP car was and is so much better than INDYCAR IMHO

Agree, much better!