Bobby Rahal

Robert Woodward "Bobby" Rahal (born January 10, 1953) is an American former 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.

Bobby Rahal
Rahal in 2010
Nationality	American
Born	Robert Woodward Rahal (1953-01-10) January 10, 1953 Medina, Ohio, U.S.
Championship titles
1986, 1987, 1992 PPG Indy Car World Series Champion 1986 Indianapolis 500 Winner
Champ Car career
266 races run over 18 years
Years active	1982–1998
Team(s)	Truesports (1982–1988) Kraco (1989) Galles-Kraco (1990–1991) Rahal-Hogan (1992–1995) Team Rahal (1996–1998)
Best finish	1st – 1986, 1987, 1992
First race	1982 Indianapolis 500
Last race	1998 Marlboro 500 (Fontana)
First win	1982 Budweiser Cleveland 500 (Cleveland)
Last win	1992 Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix (Nazareth)
Wins Podiums Poles 24 88 17
Formula One World Championship career
Active years	1978
Teams	Wolf
Entries	2
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1978 United States Grand Prix
Last entry	1978 Canadian Grand Prix
NASCAR Cup Series career
1 race run over 1 year
Best finish	91st – 1984
First race	1984 Winston Western 500 (Riverside)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0

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

And it was frigid. A very cold day, and the race long – long for me. The longest I'd done before that was a 100-mile Formula Atlantic race, and this was a 200-mile grand prix. I just wanted to get to the end and get to the next race. It was a workman-like debut.

Rahal, speaking about his Formula One debut at Watkins Glen[1]

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.[1] 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.[2]

IndyCar owner

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 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.[3] 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.[4] 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 Bobby Rahal Automotive Group, a network of car dealerships in western and central Pennsylvania selling Acura, BMW, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Volvo.

Awards

• International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2004)
• Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2004)[5]
• SCCA Hall of Fame (2013)[6]
• Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame (2014)
• Simeone Foundation Spirit of Competition Award (2014)[7]

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 formerly lived in New Albany, Ohio. Rahal is a graduate of Denison University. He now lives in Lincoln Park, near the lakefront of Chicago. He is the son of sports car racer Mike Rahal[8] and the father of Graham Rahal, who now races in the IndyCar Series.

Rahal owns a 1975 Lola T360 which he occasionally races at vintage racing events.

Rahal also grew up in the Chicago suburbs and attended Glenbard West High School as class of 1971.

Motorsports career results

SCCA National Championship Runoffs

Year	Track	Car	Engine	Class	Finish	Start	Status
1974	Road Atlanta	Lola T290	Ford	B Sports Racing	3	3	Running
1975	Road Atlanta	March 75B	Ford	Formula B	1	2	Running
1977	Road Atlanta	March 75B	Ford	Formula B	18	1	Retired

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position / Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Formula One results
Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	WDC	Pts
1978	Walter Wolf Racing	Wolf WR5	Ford Cosworth 3.0 V8	ARG	BRA	RSA	USW	MON	BEL	ESP	SWE	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	USA 12		NC	0
		Wolf WR1																	CAN Ret

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Formula Two results
Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Pos.	Pts
1979	Chevron Racing Team	Chevron B48	Hart	SIL 4	HOC 7	THR 5	NÜR Ret	VAL 4	MUG 6	PAU Ret	HOC 6	ZAN Ret	PER Ret	MIS 7	DON	11th	10

American Open Wheel Racing

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

PPG Indy Car Series

PPG Indy Car Series results
Year	Team	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	Rank	Points
1982	Truesports Co.	March 82C	Cosworth DFX V8t	PHX 18	ATL	MIL 20	CLE 1	MCH 3	MIL 2	POC 3	RIV 15	ROA 3	MCH 1	PHX 5									2nd	242
1983	Truesports Co.	March 83C	Cosworth DFX V8t	ATL 21	INDY 20	MIL 6	CLE 19	MCH 5	ROA 10	POC 5	RIV 1		MCH 2			PHX DNS							5th	94
			Chevrolet V8									MDO 3		CPL 9	LAG 7
1984	Truesports Co.	March 84C	Cosworth DFX V8t	LBH 14	PHX 7	INDY 7	MIL 14	POR 14	MEA 11	CLE 14	MCH 18	ROA 2	POC 3	MDO 2	SAN 2	MCH 5	PHX 1	LAG 1	CPL 7				3rd	137
1985	Truesports Co.	March 85C	Cosworth DFX V8t	LBH 27	INDY 27	MIL 9	POR 20	MEA 25	CLE 28	MCH 6	ROA 4	POC 4	MDO 1	SAN 10	MCH 1	LAG 1	PHX 6	MIA 2					3rd	133
1986	Truesports Co.	March 86C	Cosworth DFX V8t	PHX 16	LBH 18	INDY 1	MIL 6	POR 20	MEA 3	CLE 15	TOR 1	MCH 10	POC 14	MDO 1	SAN 1	MCH 1	ROA 5	LAG 1	PHX 3	MIA 8			1st	179
1987	Truesports Co.	Lola T87/00	Cosworth DFX V8t	LBH 24	PHX 2	INDY 26	MIL 2	POR 1	MEA 1	CLE 2	TOR 3	MCH 3	POC 5	ROA 23	MDO 2	NAZ 2	LAG 1	MIA 7					1st	188
1988	Truesports Co.	Lola T88/00	Judd AV V8t	PHX 16	LBH 2	INDY 5	MIL 6	POR 12	CLE 2	TOR 5	MEA 5	MCH 2	POC 1	MDO 18	ROA 2	NAZ 12	LAG 4	MIA 18					3rd	136
1989	Kraco Racing	Lola T89/00	Cosworth DFS V8t	PHX 18	LBH 4	INDY 26	MIL 13	DET 18	POR 2	CLE 3	MEA 1	TOR 19	MCH 9	POC 6	MDO 22	ROA 28	NAZ 7	LAG 6					9th	88
1990	Galles-Kraco Racing	Lola T90/00	Chevrolet 265A V8t	PHX 2	LBH 12	INDY 2	MIL 4	DET 2	POR 11	CLE 2	MEA 25	TOR 22	MCH 2	DEN 3	VAN 8	MDO 6	ROA 7	NAZ 3	LAG 5				4th	153
1991	Galles-Kraco Racing	Lola T91/00	Chevrolet 265A V8t	SRF 2	LBH 2	PHX 2	INDY 19	MIL 4	DET 2	POR 3	CLE 3	MEA 1	TOR 3	MCH 11	DEN 20	VAN 2	MDO 3	ROA 4	NAZ 2	LAG 24			2nd	200
1992	Rahal-Hogan Racing	Lola T92/00	Chevrolet 265A V8t	SRF 3	PHX 1	LBH 2	INDY 6	DET 1	POR 14	MIL 2	NHA 1	TOR 2	MCH 11	CLE 4	ROA 3	VAN 22	MDO 24	NAZ 1	LAG 3				1st	196
1993	Rahal-Hogan Racing	Rahal-Hogan RH-001	Chevrolet 265C V8t	SRF 6	PHX 22	LBH 2	INDY DNQ																4th	133
		Lola T93/00						MIL 4	DET 5	POR 4	CLE 28	TOR 4	MCH 9	NHA 7	ROA 3	VAN 2	MDO 6	NAZ 6	LAG 7
1994	Rahal-Hogan Racing	Lola T94/00	Honda HRX V8t	SRF 26	PHX 14	LBH 30		MIL 7	DET 6	POR 12	CLE 28	TOR 2	MCH 28	MDO 27	NHA 9	VAN 7	ROA 9	NAZ 14	LAG 29				10th	59
		Penske PC-22	Ilmor 265D V8t				INDY 3
1995	Rahal-Hogan Racing	Lola T95/00	Mercedes-Benz IC108B V8t	MIA 3	SRF 2	PHX 21	LBH 21	NAZ 6	INDY 3	MIL 13	DET 24	POR 3	ROA 5	TOR 2	CLE 4	MCH 8	MDO 26	NHA 10	VAN 5	LAG 7			3rd	128
1996	Team Rahal	Reynard 96i	Mercedes-Benz IC108C V8t	MIA 5	RIO 6	SRF 20	LBH 14	NAZ 6	500 19	MIL 7	DET 21	POR 6	CLE 15	TOR 3	MCH 24	MDO 5	ROA 2	VAN 2	LAG 7				7th	102
1997	Team Rahal	Reynard 97i	Ford XD V8t	MIA 16	SRF 10	LBH 10	NAZ 6	RIO 10	GAT 20	MIL 11	DET 9	POR 24	CLE 5	TOR 9	MCH 17	MDO 3	ROA 6	VAN 24	LAG 19	FON 5			12th	70
1998	Team Rahal	Reynard 98i	Ford XD V8t	MIA 19	MOT 17	LBH 17	NAZ 6	RIO 8	GAT 8	MIL 5	DET 11	POR 6	CLE 8	TOR 4	MCH 7	MDO 3	ROA 8	VAN 25	LAG 16	HOU 23	SRF 25	FON 11	10th	82

Indianapolis 500 results

Rahal during the 1986 Indy 500

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	1st	Truesports
1987	Lola	Cosworth	2nd	26th	Truesports
1988	Lola	Judd	19th	5th	Truesports
1989	Lola	Cosworth	7th	26th	Kraco
1990	Lola	Chevrolet	4th	2nd	Galles/Kraco
1991	Lola	Chevrolet	4th	19th	Galles/Kraco
1992	Lola	Chevrolet	10th	6th	Rahal/Hogan
1993	Rahal	Chevrolet	Failed to Qualify		Rahal/Hogan
1994	Penske	Ilmor	28th	3rd	Rahal/Hogan
1995	Lola	Ilmor-Mercedes	21st	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

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	NWCC	Pts
1984	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	RSD 40	91st	43

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year	Team	Co-Drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
1980	Dick Barbour Racing	Bob Garretson Allan Moffat	Porsche 935 K3	IMSA	134	DNF	DNF
1982	Garretson Developments	Skeeter McKitterick Jim Trueman	March 82G	C	28	DNF	DNF

References

1. Pruett, Marshall (11 December 2015). "Reflections: 1978 Formula 1 at Watkins Glen". racer.com. Archived from the original on 13 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
2. "1984 Winston Western 500". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
3. ChampCarStats.com
4. "Lauda Criticises Rahal over Irvine Offer to Jordan". Atlas F1. Autosport.com. 2001-08-28. Retrieved 2016-07-04.
5. Bobby Rahal at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
6. Lewandowski, Dave (January 8, 2013). "Notes: Rahal among five elected to SCCA Hall". IndyCar. Archived from the original on January 12, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
7. "Bobby Rahal to receive Simeone Spirit of Competition Award/". www.hemmings.com. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
8. Cavin, Curt (August 20, 2012). "Family Playground: Mid-Ohio is home for the Rahals". Autoweek. 62 (17): 60–61.

External links

• Rahal Letterman Racing website
• Rahal's automobile dealerships website
• The Greatest 33
• Bobby Rahal driver statistics at Racing-Reference

Sporting positions
Preceded by Al Unser	CART Indy Car Series Champion 1986, 1987	Succeeded by Danny Sullivan
Preceded by Michael Andretti	CART Indy Car Series Champion 1992	Succeeded by Nigel Mansell
Achievements
Preceded by Danny Sullivan	Indianapolis 500 Winner 1986	Succeeded by Al Unser
Preceded by Bob Lazier	CART Rookie of the Year 1982	Succeeded by Teo Fabi