Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
MAVTV 500 – Auto Club Speedway
Verizon IndyCar Series
QUALIFYING NOTES/QUOTES – Friday, June 26, 2015
RAHAL TO START 19TH FOR THE MAVTV 500 AT AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY
POLE: Simon Pagenaud 2-lap avg. speed of 218.952 mph (L1: 32.8599, L2: 32.9080)
19th: Graham Rahal 2-lap avg. speed of 213.639 mph (L1: 33.6841, L2: 33.7193)
GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 Mi-Jack Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “I’m happy with the speed we ran which was way, way better than I expected based on the speeds I did earlier today. I knew qualifying was going to be our weakness but I think the race car is pretty good. I don’t want to start too far back obviously but I told my guys I thought we would qualify between 15th and 18th. Everyone adds so much downforce back on the cars for the race. Over a 30, 32-lap stint we did in practice, I was able to say pretty close to flat the whole time and able to pass (Will) Power and a bunch of good guys so I feel like we will be okay in the race.”
RLL AT FONTANA: The 2015 MAVTV 500 will mark the 14th IndyCar race for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) here. The team was entered in seven CART/Champ Car races from 1997-2003 but the 2003 event was cancelled due to wildfires. In total, the team competed in six CART/Champ Car races (all scheduled as 500-mile races; five run as such) and seven Indy Racing League/IndyCar Series events (2002-2005, 2012-2014). The team won ONE RACE (Jimmy Vasser 2002), made TWO front row starts (2nd: Max Papis 1999, Kenny Brack 2003), earned FOUR podiums (2nd – Papis 1999 & 2001; 3rd – Vitor Meira 2005), and led 407 laps (chart available). The team entered cars for Bobby Rahal (1997-1998), Bryan Herta (1997-1999), Max Papis (1999-2001), Kenny Brack (2000-2001, 2003), Jimmy Vasser (2002 – both CCWS & IRL), Michel Jourdain (2002-2003), Buddy Rice (2004-2005), Vitor Meira (2004-2005), Danica Patrick (2005), Takuma Sato (2012), Graham Rahal (2013-2014) and James Jakes (2013). The No. 15 Mi-Jack entry for Graham Rahal will bring that total to 24 Indy car entries in this race.
NEXT UP: NBC Sports Network will begin coverage at 4:00 p.m. ET Saturday and the MAVTV 500 will take the Green Flag at 1:36 p.m. PT. Streaming video and Timing and Scoring information is available for all practice sessions from www.indycar.com and includes commentary by the INDYCAR Radio Network.
PHOTO AND VIDEO AVAILABLE: Media members who register on the IndyCar Series media site have access to photography as well as video. Register for access to photos at: http://www.indycarmfedia.com/pages/ApplyforAccess