Graham Rahal has an thought of what traits his subsequent teammate may have at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL)in 2025.
When the checkered flag falls subsequent weekend at Nashville Superspeedway, it’ll mark an finish of the workforce’s present lineup consisting of Christian Lundgaard, Pietro Fittipaldi and Rahal. Lundgaard is certain for Arrow McLaren to interchange Alexander Rossi and full the workforce’s roster for subsequent yr alongside Pato O’Ward and Nolan Siegel.
Past Rahal, it stays a little bit of an unknown what RLL will seem like for 2025, however there’s an thought of what he’s in search of in a teammate.
“I feel what I am in search of is someone that helps add to the equation,” stated Rahal, 35.
“We as a workforce should be shifting ahead, and we have to enhance. And that is the gist of it. I would like someone that is going to have the ability to are available in and assist me. And so assist not solely me, however assist the workforce.
“We have to transfer ahead. We have to strive various things. We have to get higher. We discovered some good things at St. Louis [Gateway]. … However it might be nice to have someone with expertise. I’ve not been shy about that.”
Eying Rossi?
Among the many notable free brokers Rahal identified was the very individual his soon-to-be-ex-teammate is changing: Rossi.
“It could be nice to have a man like Alex, however clearly Pietro is doing a a lot better job,” Rahal continued. “I feel what individuals do not see about Pietro, too, is his race tempo has all the time been very sturdy. He is a very good racer. You recognize, qualifying tempo, issues like which can be going to enhance. However his race tempo could be very robust, which means good. Like he is a troublesome man; when he is behind you, he is on you want just a little bulldog.”
Rahal additionally prolonged ideas to Juri Vips, the previous Purple Bull reserve driver who was dropped from after utilizing a racial slur on a reside gaming stream in 2022. After making two begins with RLL on the finish of final season, Vips was retained because the workforce’s improvement driver this yr, additionally making a one-off look as a part of a fourth entry final month at Portland.
“After which, lastly, I’ve stated all alongside Juri deserves a shot; and if it is not with us, I hope someone seems at Juri as a result of Juri is knowledgeable,” Rahal stated.
“And I perceive what’s occurred previously, however we have to all transfer on. We have made errors in life; we gotta transfer ahead, and Juri is a gifted, gifted human being that deserves a possibility, and I assumed final weekend he was a professional. He got here in; he was quick straight away, struggled just a little bit in qualifying, struggled just a little bit within the race, however these issues are to be anticipated.
“So let’s have a look at what occurs right here, man. I do not know proper now the place we’re at as a workforce. I do not know, you already know, the place issues are going to finish up. However there’s a whole lot of nice choices on the market, for positive.”
Pietro Fittipaldi, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
Picture by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Photos
In circling again to Rossi, Rahal supplied extra perception whereas additionally acknowledging that he may finally discover himself doubtlessly making workforce choices much like his father, 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, one among three co-owners of RLL.
“I am a cheerleader for him [Rossi],” Rahal stated. “I all the time have been, stored in contact with him very intently because the Andretti days and the place he may go. Look, guys, the details are the details, which is possibly some day I make these choices, however that day just isn’t immediately. So, you already know, I can have my opinions, I can say my piece; that does not imply that is what is going on to occur.”
