After a difficult 2014 season which has seen a lot of personnel changes as well as the lost of National Guard sponsorship after one season, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing can only go up in 2015. After running one car for majority of 2014, the team will continue to do the same in 2015.
2014 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Review:
Wins: 0
Best Finish: 2nd (Belle Isle 1).
Poles: 0
Best Start: 2nd (Belle Isle 2).
Final Championship Position: 19th (Graham Rahal), 24th (Oriol Servià), 28th (Luca Filippi)
2015 Driver:
Graham Rahal
Graham Rahal returns for his third season with his father's team. At 26 years old, Rahal's career has already experienced the highest of high and lowest of lows. Outside of his second place finished at Belle Isle 1 last year, the Ohioan massed a total of four top tens through 18 races with his a fifth at Mid-Ohio, his home race being the only other bright spot in his season. His average finish last year was 15th and Rahal finished a career worst 19th in the championship when running a full-season.
Numbers to Remember: 113. Rahal has made 113 starts since his victory in the wet at St. Petersburg in 2008. If he ever wins another race, he will break Johnny Rutherford's record for most starts between victories. Lone Star JR went 97 starts between victories at Atlanta in 1965 and Ontario in 1973.
3. The number of Fast Twelve appearances for Rahal in 2014.
0. The number of Firestone Fast Six appearances Rahal made in 2014.
3. Since 2008, the most consecutive top ten finishes for Rahal is three and it's happened three times (Edmonton, Kentucky, Mid-Ohio 2009; Sao Paulo, Indianapolis, Texas 1 2011 and Texas, Milwaukee, Iowa 2012).
4. Rahal has had at least one runner-up finish in four consecutive season (Sao Paulo and Milwaukee 2011, Texas 2012, Long Beach 2013 and Belle Isle 1 2014).
17.166. Rahal's average finish on ovals in 2014.
Predictions/Goals: Rahal's goal should be to string together four or more consecutive top ten finishes. If you want to be a top tier driver it's about consistently being in the top half of the field. Look at Hélio Castroneves. The last two seasons he has found himself in championship contention entering the final race and it's not because he has won a half a dozen races it's because he will put together long stretches of top ten finishes. Qualifying is another area Rahal needs to improve. During his days with Newman-Haas, Rahal was consistently starting at the front of races especially in 2009 when his average start was 5.88, started in the top ten in 15 of 17 races and made the Firestone Fast Six in five of seven road/street course races and started in the top ten in six of seven. Things will improve for Rahal in 2015 but he won't finish in the top five in the championship. The goal right now should be to be on the cusp of the top ten in the championship.
The 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series seasons gets underway on Sunday March 29th. ABC's coverage will begin at 3:00 p.m. ET with green flag at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Wins: 0
Best Finish: 2nd (Belle Isle 1).
Poles: 0
Best Start: 2nd (Belle Isle 2).
Final Championship Position: 19th (Graham Rahal), 24th (Oriol Servià), 28th (Luca Filippi)
2015 Driver:
Graham Rahal
Graham Rahal returns for his third season with his father's team. At 26 years old, Rahal's career has already experienced the highest of high and lowest of lows. Outside of his second place finished at Belle Isle 1 last year, the Ohioan massed a total of four top tens through 18 races with his a fifth at Mid-Ohio, his home race being the only other bright spot in his season. His average finish last year was 15th and Rahal finished a career worst 19th in the championship when running a full-season.
Numbers to Remember: 113. Rahal has made 113 starts since his victory in the wet at St. Petersburg in 2008. If he ever wins another race, he will break Johnny Rutherford's record for most starts between victories. Lone Star JR went 97 starts between victories at Atlanta in 1965 and Ontario in 1973.
3. The number of Fast Twelve appearances for Rahal in 2014.
0. The number of Firestone Fast Six appearances Rahal made in 2014.
3. Since 2008, the most consecutive top ten finishes for Rahal is three and it's happened three times (Edmonton, Kentucky, Mid-Ohio 2009; Sao Paulo, Indianapolis, Texas 1 2011 and Texas, Milwaukee, Iowa 2012).
4. Rahal has had at least one runner-up finish in four consecutive season (Sao Paulo and Milwaukee 2011, Texas 2012, Long Beach 2013 and Belle Isle 1 2014).
17.166. Rahal's average finish on ovals in 2014.
Predictions/Goals: Rahal's goal should be to string together four or more consecutive top ten finishes. If you want to be a top tier driver it's about consistently being in the top half of the field. Look at Hélio Castroneves. The last two seasons he has found himself in championship contention entering the final race and it's not because he has won a half a dozen races it's because he will put together long stretches of top ten finishes. Qualifying is another area Rahal needs to improve. During his days with Newman-Haas, Rahal was consistently starting at the front of races especially in 2009 when his average start was 5.88, started in the top ten in 15 of 17 races and made the Firestone Fast Six in five of seven road/street course races and started in the top ten in six of seven. Things will improve for Rahal in 2015 but he won't finish in the top five in the championship. The goal right now should be to be on the cusp of the top ten in the championship.
The 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series seasons gets underway on Sunday March 29th. ABC's coverage will begin at 3:00 p.m. ET with green flag at 3:30 p.m. ET.
