Bobby Rahal

Bobby Rahal (born January 10, 1953 in Medina, Ohio) is an auto racing team owner and former driver.

Related Topics:
January 10 - 1953 - Medina, Ohio - Auto racing

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As a driver, he won three CART (now Champcars) championships (with Michael Andretti finishing as runner-up each time) and 24 races, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500. He also started 2 Formula One races for Walter Wolf in 1978, and was in contention for driving their second car until they chose to focus merely on James Hunt. He also had success in sportscar races, winning the 1981 24 Hours of Daytona, and the 1987 12 Hours of Sebring. He retired from competitive driving in 1998, ranking first in career starts, second in career earnings, third in laps led, fourth in wins and fifth in pole positions in Champcars history.

Related Topics:
Champcars - Michael Andretti - 1986 - Indianapolis 500 - Formula One - Walter Wolf - 1978 - James Hunt - 1981 - 24 Hours of Daytona - 1987 - 12 Hours of Sebring - 1998

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He is co-owner of Rahal Letterman Racing, in partnership with David Letterman, who became a minority owner in 1996. When the team was formed in 1992, it was known as Rahal-Hogan Racing. It changed its name to Team Rahal when then-co-owner Carl Hogan left, and it changed its name again to Rahal Letterman Racing in May 2004. The team won the title for Bobby in 1992, making him the last owner-driver to win the IndyCar title, and the last driver to win a race in his own car until Adrian Fernandez did so in 2003. The team was consistantly successful in the series until 2003, Kenny Brack finishing as rookie of the year in 2000 and championship runner-up in 2001. In 2003 they first entered an IRL car, and have focused on this series since 2004.

Related Topics:
Rahal Letterman Racing - David Letterman - 1996 - May - 2004 - Adrian Fernandez - 2003 - Kenny Brack - 2000 - 2001 - IRL

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His team won the Indianapolis 500 in 2004 with a car driven by Buddy Rice. The same year, Rahal was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. In 2005, his team made racing history with Danica Patrick becoming the first woman to lead a lap in the Indianapolis 500 among her other notable achievements at the race, qualifying and practice sessions.

Related Topics:
2004 - Buddy Rice - International Motorsports Hall of Fame - 2005 - Danica Patrick

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