Bobby Rahal - WikiHQ

Robert Woodward Rahal ( ; born January 10, 1953) is an American racing driver and motorsports executive. As a driver, he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500. As co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, he won the Indianapolis 500 in 2004 and 2020 with drivers Buddy Rice and Takuma Sato, respectively.

After retiring as a driver, Rahal held managerial positions with the Jaguar Formula 1 team and also was an interim president of the CART series. Rahal was also a sports car driver during the 1980s, and made one NASCAR start for the Wood Brothers.

Racing career

Rahal began his career in SCCA feeder categories, eventually finishing second to Gilles Villeneuve in the 1977 Formula Atlantic championship. The following year, he competed in the 1978 New Zealand Grand Prix with Fred Opert Racing (Formula Pacific) and in European Formula Three with Wolf Racing. Near the end of the season, Rahal raced for the Wolf Formula 1 team in the 1978 United States Grand Prix and the 1978 Canadian Grand Prix.

IndyCar owner

thumb|left|Rahal driving for Team Rahal at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 1996

After losing the championship to Michael Andretti in 1991, Rahal (with partner Carl Hogan) acquired the assets to the former Pat Patrick Racing team, with Rahal becoming an owner-driver. The team was an immediate success in 1992, producing four wins for Rahal and his third CART championship, making him the last owner-driver to win the CART title, and the last driver to win a race with his own team until Adrian Fernandez did so in 2003. In 1993, Rahal attempted to develop his own Rahal-Hogan chassis, but reverted to the Lola chassis after failing to qualify for the 1993 Indianapolis 500. In 1994, the team brought the Honda engine into the CART series. Except for a second-place finish at Toronto, he and teammate Mike Groff struggled to show the full potential of an engine that would soon dominate the series. In 1995 at Long Beach, Rahal became the tenth driver in Championship Car history (including AAA, USAC, and CART) to start 200 races in his career. Despite no wins, Rahal finished a strong third in the 1995 standings using the Mercedes engine.

Rahal continued as a racing driver until his retirement in 1998. Meanwhile, Hogan left to form his own team and talk show host David Letterman became a minority owner in 1996. The team became known as Team Rahal in 1996 and Rahal Letterman Racing in 2004, when Rahal switched from CART to the IRL full-time.

Other business roles

From 1997 to 1999, Rahal co-owned a team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with sportscar-racing veteran Tom Gloy. The team, called Gloy-Rahal Racing, competed part time in 1997 and full time for the remainder of existence.

In 2000, Rahal joined the Jaguar Formula One team in a managerial capacity. During this time, Rahal attempted to hire championship-winning aerodynamicist Adrian Newey, briefly believing that the deal had been completed, but was unsuccessful. However, Rahal was fired after reportedly attempting to sell driver Eddie Irvine to rivals Jordan. Ironically, the team fired Irvine little more than a year after firing Rahal, while Newey joined in 2006, a year after the team was sold to Red Bull.

Rahal was the interim President and CEO of CART for six months during the 2000 season.

Rahal's business interests include Bobby Rahal Automotive Group, a network of car dealerships in western and central Pennsylvania currently selling Acura, BMW, Honda, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota.

In 2021, Rahal began to venture into race promoting with the help of former IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George. Rahal's first move in race promotion was to return the popular Iowa Speedway round to IndyCar after it had been left off of the 2021 calendar. Rahal was able to recruit Iowa supermarket chain Hy-Vee as a sponsor and secured a multi year agreement between IndyCar and Iowa Speedway to run a double header event at the track starting in 2022.

Awards

International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2004)
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2004)
SCCA Hall of Fame (2013)
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame (2014)
Simeone Foundation Spirit of Competition Award (2014)

Tribute

At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the back straight leading up to the corkscrew was named the "Rahal Straight" in his honor.

Personal life

Rahal is the son of Barbara and Michael Rahal (1924–2017) who raced autos for over two decades. His father is of Lebanese descent and his mother is of English descent. His father owned a wholesale food distribution business.

|rowspan=2| 1983

!rowspan=2 nowrap| Truesports Co.

!rowspan=2| 2

!rowspan=2 nowrap| March 83C

! nowrap| Cosworth DFX V8t

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| INDY

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MIL

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLE

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MCH

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ROA

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| POC

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| RIV

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MCH

|colspan=2|

|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| PHX

|colspan=6|

|rowspan=2 style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 5th

|rowspan=2 style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 94

!rowspan=2|

! nowrap| Chevrolet V8

|colspan=8|

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MDO

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| CPL

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| LAG

|colspan=7|

| 1984

! nowrap| Truesports Co.

! 5

! nowrap| March 84C

! nowrap| Cosworth DFX V8t

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LBH

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| PHX

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| INDY

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MIL

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POR

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MEA

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLE

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MCH

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ROA

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| POC

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MDO

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SAN

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MCH

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| PHX

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| LAG

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| CPL

|colspan=3|

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 137

| 1985

! nowrap| Truesports Co.

! rowspan=2| 3

! nowrap| March 85C

! nowrap| Cosworth DFX V8t

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LBH

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| INDY

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MIL

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MEA

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLE

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MCH

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ROA

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| POC

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MDO

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SAN

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MCH

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| LAG

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| PHX

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MIA

|colspan=4|

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 133

| 1986

! nowrap| Truesports Co.

! nowrap| March 86C

! nowrap| Cosworth DFX V8t

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| PHX

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LBH

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| INDY

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MIL

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POR

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MEA

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLE

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| TOR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MCH

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MDO

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SAN

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MCH

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ROA

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| LAG

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| PHX

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MIA

|colspan=2|

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 179

| 1987

! nowrap| Truesports Co.

! rowspan=2| 1

! nowrap| Lola T87/00

! nowrap| Cosworth DFX V8t

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LBH

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| PHX

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| INDY

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MIL

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| POR

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MEA

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CLE

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| TOR

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MCH

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| POC

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ROA

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MDO

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| NAZ

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| LAG

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MIA

|colspan=4|

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 188

| 1988

! nowrap| Truesports Co.

! nowrap| Lola T88/00

! nowrap| Judd AV V8t

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| PHX

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| LBH

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| INDY

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MIL

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| POR

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CLE

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TOR

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MEA

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MCH

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| POC

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MDO

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ROA

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| NAZ

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LAG

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MIA

|colspan=4|

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 136

| 1989

! nowrap| Kraco Racing

! rowspan=3| 18

! nowrap| Lola T89/00

! nowrap| Cosworth DFS V8t

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| PHX

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LBH

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| INDY

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MIL

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DET

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| POR

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CLE

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MEA

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TOR

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MCH

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| POC

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MDO

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ROA

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| NAZ

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| LAG

|colspan=4|

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 9th

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 88

| 1990

! nowrap| Galles-Kraco Racing

! nowrap| Lola T90/00

! nowrap| Chevrolet 265A V8t

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| PHX

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| LBH

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| INDY

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MIL

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DET

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| POR

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CLE

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MEA

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TOR

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MCH

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DEN

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| VAN

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MDO

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| ROA

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| NAZ

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LAG

|colspan=3|

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4th

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 153

| 1991

! nowrap| Galles-Kraco Racing

! nowrap| Lola T91/00

! nowrap| Chevrolet 265A V8t

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SRF

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| LBH

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| PHX

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| INDY

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MIL

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DET

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| POR

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CLE

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MEA

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| TOR

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MCH

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DEN

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| VAN

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MDO

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ROA

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| NAZ

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LAG

|colspan=2|

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2nd

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 200

| 1992

! nowrap| Rahal-Hogan Racing

! 12

! nowrap| Lola T92/00

! nowrap| Chevrolet 265A V8t

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| SRF

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| PHX

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| LBH

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| INDY

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| DET

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| POR

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MIL

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| NHA

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| TOR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MCH

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CLE

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ROA

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| VAN

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MDO

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| NAZ

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| LAG

|colspan=3|

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 196

|rowspan=2| 1993

!rowspan=2 nowrap| Rahal-Hogan Racing

!rowspan=2| 1

! nowrap| Rahal-Hogan RH-001

!rowspan=2 nowrap| Chevrolet 265C V8t

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| SRF

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| PHX

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| LBH

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| INDY

|colspan=15|

|rowspan=2 style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4th

|rowspan=2 style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 133

!rowspan=2|

! nowrap| Lola T93/00

|colspan=4|

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MIL

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DET

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| POR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLE

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TOR

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MCH

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| NHA

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ROA

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| VAN

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MDO

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| NAZ

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| LAG

|colspan=3|

|rowspan=2| 1994

!rowspan=2 nowrap| Rahal-Hogan Racing

!rowspan=2| 4

! nowrap| Lola T94/00

! nowrap| Honda HRX V8t

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SRF

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| PHX

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LBH

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MIL

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| DET

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| POR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLE

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| TOR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MCH

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MDO

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| NHA

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| VAN

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| ROA

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| NAZ

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LAG

|colspan=3|

|rowspan=2 style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 10th

|rowspan=2 style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 59

!rowspan=2|

! nowrap| Penske PC-22

! nowrap| Ilmor 265D V8t

|colspan=3|

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| INDY

|colspan=15|

| 1995

! nowrap| Rahal-Hogan Racing

! 9

! nowrap| Lola T95/00

! nowrap| Mercedes-Benz IC108B V8t

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MIA

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SRF

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| PHX

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LBH

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| NAZ

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| INDY

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MIL

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DET

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| POR

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ROA

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| TOR

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CLE

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MCH

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MDO

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| NHA

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| VAN

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| LAG

|colspan=2|

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 128

| 1996

! nowrap| Team Rahal

! 18

! nowrap| Reynard 96i

! nowrap| Mercedes-Benz IC108C V8t

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MIA

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| RIO

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SRF

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| LBH

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| NAZ

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| 500

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MIL

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DET

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| POR

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CLE

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| TOR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MCH

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MDO

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ROA

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| VAN

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| LAG

|colspan=3|

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 7th

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 102

| 1997

! nowrap| Team Rahal

! rowspan=2| 7

! nowrap| Reynard 97i

! nowrap| Ford XD V8t

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MIA

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| SRF

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| LBH

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| NAZ

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| RIO

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GAT

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MIL

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| DET

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POR

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CLE

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| TOR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MCH

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MDO

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| ROA

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| VAN

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LAG

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| FON

|colspan=2|

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 12th

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 70

| 1998

! nowrap| Team Rahal

! nowrap| Reynard 98i

! nowrap| Ford XD V8t

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MIA

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MOT

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| LBH

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| NAZ

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| RIO

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| GAT

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MIL

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DET

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| POR

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| CLE

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TOR

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MCH

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MDO

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| ROA

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| VAN

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| LAG

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| HOU

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SRF

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FON

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 10th

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 82

Indianapolis 500 results

right|thumb|300px|Rahal during the [[1986 Indianapolis 500|1986 Indy 500]]

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

! Year

! Chassis

! Engine

! Start

! Finish

! Team

| 1982

| March

| Cosworth

| 17th

| 11th

| Truesports

| 1983

| March

| Cosworth

| 6th

| 20th

| Truesports

| 1984

| March

| Cosworth

| 18th

| 7th

| Truesports

| 1985

| March

| Cosworth

| 3rd

| 27th

| Truesports

| 1986

| March

| Cosworth

| 4th

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

| Truesports

| 1987

| Lola

| Cosworth

| 2nd

| 26th

| Truesports

| 1988

| Lola

| Judd

| 19th

| 5th

| Truesports

| 1989

| Lola

| Cosworth

| 7th

| 26th

| Kraco

| 1990

| Lola

| Chevrolet

| 4th

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2nd

| Galles/Kraco

| 1991

| Lola

| Chevrolet

| 4th

| 19th

| Galles/Kraco

| 1992

| Lola

| Chevrolet

| 10th

| 6th

| Rahal/Hogan

| 1993

| Rahal

| Chevrolet

|colspan=2 align=center|Failed to Qualify

| | Rahal/Hogan

| 1994

| Penske

| Ilmor

| 28th

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

| Rahal/Hogan

| 1995

| Lola

| Ilmor-Mercedes

| 21st

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

| Rahal/Hogan

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"

!colspan=45| NASCAR Winston Cup Series results

! Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

! 22

! 23

! 24

! 25

! 26

! 27

! 28

! 29

! 30

! Pts

! Ref

! 1984

! nowrap| Wood Brothers Racing

! 21

! Ford

| DAY

| RCH

| CAR

| ATL

| BRI

| NWS

| DAR

| MAR

| TAL

| NSV

| DOV

| CLT

| RSD

| POC

| MCH

| DAY

| NSV

| POC

| TAL

| MCH

| BRI

| DAR

| RCH

| DOV

| MAR

| CLT

| NWS

| CAR

| ATL

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RSD

! 91st

! 43

24 Hours of Le Mans results

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"

! Year

! Team

! Co-Drivers

! Car

! Class

! Laps

! 1980

| align="left" nowrap| Dick Barbour Racing

| align="left" nowrap| Bob Garretson Allan Moffat

| nowrap| Porsche 935 K3

| IMSA

| 134

| DNF

! 1982

| align="left" nowrap| Garretson Developments

| align="left" nowrap| Skeeter McKitterick Jim Trueman

| nowrap| March 82G

| C

| 28

| DNF

References

External links

Rahal Letterman Racing website
Rahal's automobile dealerships website
The Greatest 33