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Bobby Rahal


Open Wheel Racing

Bobby Rahal
Person

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Wikipedia: Bobby Rahal

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Born: 10 January 1953
Hometown: Medina, Ohio, USA

Former race car driver and three-time PPG Indy Car World Series Champion. Currently he is a car dealership owner whose businesses include Bobby Rahal Acura and Bobby Rahal Honda in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

His accomplishments include:
1986 PPG Indy Car World Series Champion
1987 PPG Indy Car World Series Champion

Biography

The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's Bobby Rahal page on 26 July 2016, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Robert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal (born January 10, 1953 in Medina, Ohio) is an American auto racing driver and team owner. As a driver, he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500. He also won the 2004 Indianapolis 500 as a team owner for the winning driver, Buddy Rice.

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 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. The deal with Wolf did not continue into the 1979 season, as Wolf signed up James Hunt for the one and only car available. Rahal began the 1979 racing a Chevron in Formula Two, but returned to America mid-season and raced in the Can-Am series. During the next few seasons, he competed in various sports car events, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the IMSA GT Championship.

In 1982, Rahal entered the CART series with the Truesports team, winning two races and finishing second in the championship behind Rick Mears. He continued racing for Truesports through the 1988 season, winning at least one race every year. In 1986, Rahal dramatically passed Kevin Cogan on a restart with two laps to go to win the Indianapolis 500, only days before his team owner, Jim Trueman died of cancer. Later that year, Rahal won his first CART championship, and successfully defended it the following year.

In 1988, Rahal won the last race the Truesports team ever won, the Quaker State 500 at Pocono, the only victory for the Judd engine ever.

By 1989, Rahal had ended his occasional forays into sports car racing and focused solely on CART. He moved over to the Kraco race team, but this association produced only two wins over three seasons.

Rahal competed in one NASCAR race in his career. In November 1984 he drove the 7-11 sponsored Wood Brothers #21 Ford (substituting for Buddy Baker) to a 40th-place finish in the Winston Western 500 at Riverside International Speedway, completing only 44 laps before breaking a rear end gear.

IndyCar owner

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 in his own car 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 10th driver in Championship Car history (including AAA, USAC, and CART) to start 200 races in his career. Despite no wins, Rahal finished a strong 3rd 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

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.

His business interests include a network of car dealerships in western and central Pennsylvania.

Rahal was also involved in the development and testing of the Honda NSX. NSX chief engineer Shigeru Uehara and his team were present at the test track to fine-tune the car's handling according to Rahal's feedback.


Photographs

Bobby Rahal at the 1986 Miller American 200 1986 Miller American 200
Photo courtesy Photo ©John Walczak.  All Rights Reserved.  Used with permission.
June 8, 1986
View photo of Bobby Rahal at the 1986 Miller American 200 - 1,328KB
Bobby Rahal 1986 Indianapolis 500 Winning Car 1986 Indianapolis 500 Winner
2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix
Photo by Nathan Bittinger
Bobby Rahal's #3 March/Cosworth Indy car. Rahal won the 1986 Indianapolis 500 in this Budweiser sponsored automobile.
View photo of Bobby Rahal 1986 Indianapolis 500 Winning Car - 323KB
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
Bobby Rahal 1986 Indianapolis 500 Winning Car 1986 Indianapolis 500 Winner
2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix
Photo by Nathan Bittinger
Bobby Rahal's #3 March/Cosworth Indy car. Rahal won the 1986 Indianapolis 500 in this Budweiser sponsored automobile.
View photo of Bobby Rahal 1986 Indianapolis 500 Winning Car - 369KB
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
Bobby Rahal 1989 Indianapolis 500 Car 1989
2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix
Photo by Nathan Bittinger
Bobby Rahal's #18 Lola/Cosworth Indy car. Rahal started 7th in the Indianapolis 500 in 1989 and finished 26th in this Kraco sponsored automobile.
View photo of Bobby Rahal 1989 Indianapolis 500 Car - 348KB
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
Bobby Rahal 1989 Indianapolis 500 Car 1989
2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix
Photo by Nathan Bittinger
Bobby Rahal's #18 Lola/Cosworth Indy car. Rahal started 7th in the Indianapolis 500 in 1989 and finished 26th in this Kraco sponsored automobile.
View photo of Bobby Rahal 1989 Indianapolis 500 Car - 386KB
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
Bobby Rahal Last Ride 2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix
Photo by Nathan Bittinger
Bobby Rahal's "Last Ride" - His last year as a driver was spent in this #7 Reynard Ford.
View photo of Bobby Rahal's "Last Ride" - 315KB
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
Bobby Rahal Last Ride 2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix
Photo by Nathan Bittinger
Bobby Rahal's "Last Ride" - His last year as a driver was spent in this #7 Reynard Ford.
View photo of Bobby Rahal's "Last Ride" - 358KB
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Bobby Rahal at the 2004 SVRA Zippo United States Grand Prix 2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix
Photo by Nathan Bittinger
View photo of Bobby Rahal at the 2004 SVRA Zippo United States Grand Prix - 211KB
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Bobby Rahal at the 2004 SVRA Zippo United States Grand Prix 2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix
Photo by Nathan Bittinger
View photo of Bobby Rahal at the 2004 SVRA Zippo United States Grand Prix - 168KB
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Bobby Rahal's 1975 Lola T360 at the 2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix 2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix
Group 9
1975 Lola T360
Photo by Nathan Bittinger
View photo of Bobby Rahal's 1975 Lola T360 at the 2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix - 292KB
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1972 Lola T290 2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix
Group 9
1972 Lola T290
Photo by Nathan Bittinger
View photo of Bobby Rahal's 1972 Lola T290 - 328KB
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
1972 Lola T290 2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix
Group 9
1972 Lola T290
Photo by Nathan Bittinger
View photo of Bobby Rahal's 1972 Lola T290 - 357KB
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
1972 Lola T290 2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix
Group 9
1972 Lola T290
Photo by Nathan Bittinger
View photo of Bobby Rahal's 1972 Lola T290 - 257KB
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
1972 Lola T290 2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix
Group 9
1972 Lola T290
Photo by Nathan Bittinger
View photo of Bobby Rahal's 1972 Lola T290 - 281KB
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
1972 Lola T290 2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix
Group 9
1972 Lola T290
Photo by Nathan Bittinger
View photo of Bobby Rahal's 1972 Lola T290 - 271KB
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
1972 Lola T290 2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix
Group 9
1972 Lola T290
Photo by Nathan Bittinger
View photo of Bobby Rahal's 1972 Lola T290 - 268KB
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Article Index

DateArticleAuthor/Source
17 March 1993MARLBORO TEAM PENSKE MEDIA CONFERENCEBobby Rahal
Emerson Fittipaldi
Steve Weiss
11 April 1995Indy Car Racing Media ConferenceBobby Rahal
13 May 1997CART Media ConferenceTony Bettenhausen
Andrew Craig
Bobby Rahal
26 August 1997CART Media ConferenceBobby Rahal
20 November 1997Miller Lite Racing Team Media ConferenceBobby Rahal
19 March 1998Miller Lite Racing Team Media ConferenceBobby Rahal
David Letterman
31 August 1998CART Media ConferenceMax Papis
Bobby Rahal
20 October 1998CART Media ConferenceBobby Rahal
10 November 1999Team Rahal Media ConferenceKenny Brack
Bobby Rahal
21 June 2000CART Media ConferenceBobby Rahal
28 July 2000U.S. Transportation Secretary Slater, CART's Bobby Rahal Extend Safety PartnershipNHTSA
20 September 2000CART Media Conference>Bobby Rahal
29 March 2001Team Rahal Media ConferenceBobby Rahal
Scott Roembke
7 August 2001CART Media ConferenceKenny Brack
Bobby Rahal
16 November 2001Team Rahal Media ConferenceBobby Rahal
Jimmy Vasser
Mike Welsh
4 March 2002CART Media ConferenceBobby Rahal
Adam Saal
Rena Shanaman
Jimmy Vasser
Tom Wieringa
11 June 2002CART Media ConferenceCristiano da Matta
Danica Patrick
Bobby Rahal
6 August 2002CART Media ConferenceMario Andretti
Derek Daly
Adrian Fernandez
Chris Kneifel

3 November 2002CART FedEx Championship Series: The 500Bryan Herta
Chris Pook
Bobby Rahal
17 November 2002CART FedEx Championship Series: Gran Premio Telmex-GiganteAngel Alverde
Michel Jourdain, Jr.
Angel Losada
Chris Pook
Bobby Rahal
15 July 2003Champ Car Media ConferenceSebastien Bourdais
John Lopes
Danica Patrick
Bobby Rahal
Derrick Walker
3 November 2003Indy Racing League Media ConferenceKenny Brack
Dr. Robert Gregori
Bobby Rahal
13 January 2004Indy Racing League Media ConferenceKenny Brack
Bobby Rahal
Buddy Rice
Scott Roembke
30 May 2004IndyCar Series: Indianapolis 500>David Letterman
Bobby Rahal
Buddy Rice
Scott Roembke
4 July 2004IndyCar Series: Argent Mortgage Indy 300Tony Kanaan
Vitor Meira
Bobby Rahal
Buddy Rice
8 December 2004Indy Racing League Media ConferenceVitor Meira
Danica Patrick
Bobby Rahal
Buddy Rice
23 January 2006Indy Racing League Media ConferencePaul Dana
Bobby Rahal
Tom Slunecka
2 May 2006Champ Car Media ConferenceBobby Rahal
Graham Rahal
Al Unser, Jr.
Al Unser III
9 November 2006Indy Racing League Media ConferenceEd Brown
Bobby Rahal
Scott Sharp
Jeff Simmons
Tom Slunecka
7 February 2007Rahal Letterman Racing Media ConferenceScott Atherton
Bobby Rahal
Tom Slunecka
7 May 2008Indy Racing League Media ConferenceBobby Rahal
Graham Rahal
6 July 2008IndyCar Series: Camping World Watkins Glen Grand PrixRyan Hunter-Reay
Bobby Rahal
11 May 2011Indy Racing League Media ConferenceBertrand Baguette
Jay Howard
Bobby Rahal
Scott Speed
19 June 2011IZOD IndyCar Series: The Milwaukee 225Bobby Rahal
9 August 2011Indy Racing League Media ConferencePatrice Kelty
Pippa Mann
Bobby Rahal
24 April 2012Indy Racing League Media ConferenceHelio Castroneves
Michel Jourdain Jr.
Bobby Rahal
18 May 2012IZOD IndyCar Series: Indianapolis 500Tom Anderson
Michel Jourdain, Jr.
Mike Lanigan
Jay O'Connell
Bobby Rahal
Takuma Sato
14 November 2012Indy Racing League Media ConferenceMike Lanigan
Graham Rahal
Bobby Rahal
Orland Wolford


Merchandise

Type & Item #NameDetails
Collector Card - 1991 All World Racing 9Bobby RahalKraco
Collector Card - 1991 All World Racing 75Racing Teammates Bobby Rahal - Al Unser, Jr.Kraco/Valvoline
Collector Card - 1991 All World Racing 97>1986 & 1987 P.P.G. Champion Bobby RahalBudweiser





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