Graham Rahal Qualified Sixth for the KOHLER Grand Prix

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

KOHLER Grand Prix at Road America

Verizon IndyCar Series

QUALIFYING NOTES/QUOTES – June 24, 2017

RAHAL QUALIFIED SIXTH FOR THE KOHLER GRAND PRIX AT ROAD AMERICA

1)  Helio Castroneves  1:41.3007 / 142.649 mph   (Group 2, Round 3; on alternate tires)

6)  Graham Rahal         1:45.0464 / 137.562 mph   (Group 1, Round 3; on primary tires)

GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 GEHL / D-A Lubricant Dallara/Honda/Firestone:  “I’m pleased that we got a good starting spot and pleased with how the GEHL / D-A Lubricant car performed in qualifying.  This team has worked awfully hard to get the No. 15 car a little further up there this weekend. It hasn’t come easy for us for sure. It’s been quite a challenge from a setup standpoint but I’m proud to get in the top six, proud to take the fight to the Ganassi boys as well. We’ve been struggling with a loose condition in the car all weekend so to make the top six was a great accomplishment for us. Obviously Penske is on a different planet but we’ll take the fight to them tomorrow.  I’m a race minded guy and I didn’t want to use the reds (alternate Firestone tires) in Round 3. I think (Scott) Dixon did his second run on reds and I just wanted to keep them fresh. Do I think I could have gone in the two’s (1:42’s) on reds again?  Yes, but I didn’t want to. I need those for the race and wanted to keep them in as good of shape as I can.  We were in the top six so we just wanted to get a lap in Round 3, more actually to learn for the race tomorrow than anything.  We’re going to have to save some fuel in the race. I wish it was longer, like 60 laps, so it (length) would take the fuel mileage issue out of the window but it’s not so we will have to try to overcome that and get the fuel number that we can. The Honda seems fast every time now so if we can get the mileage, we should be pretty strong.”

• FAST FACTS: Was the only driver of six in Round 3 that did not utilize the faster red, alternate Firestone tires in order to save them for the race… Will be Rahal’s seventh race here and third in a Champ or Indy car.  In his two previous Indy car races here in 2007 and 2016, he finished third.  Last year, Rahal not only returned to the track to race for the first time in nine years (2007), he also returned to the podium.  He progressed to the Fast Six in qualifying and started sixth.  He passed Helio Castroneves on the opening lap for fifth place and on Lap 6 of 50, he moved into fourth when second-place runner Dixon had engine issues. On Lap 7 he passed series points leader Simon Pagenaud for third place and held the position until he took the lead before his first stop on Lap 13.  He leapfrogged Kanaan for second place when he returned to the track ahead of Kanaan but the Brazilian was able to get back by on hot tires compared to Rahal’s cold tires.  He moved into second when Kanaan made his second stop before Rahal made his on Lap 26. The same scenario happened and Rahal beat him on track but was passed by Kanaan right after due to being on cold tires.  He was on scuffed red tires and Pagenaud was able to pass him for third on Lap 34 with the help of Push to Pass.  He made his third stop on Lap 39 and he was unable to get back on track ahead of Kanaan but got ahead of Helio Castroneves for fourth. On the restart from Conor Daly’s crash, he held fourth but was able to pass Pagenaud for third on Lap 46 of 50. He held the position and finished third… He finished third in the 2007 Champ Car race after starting fourth with Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing…  An electrical failure in the season-finale Atlantic Championship race in 2006 at Road America after starting third led to a runner-up finish in the title fight with eventual champion Simon Pagenaud after he retired in 20th place…  Rahal also competed in two Formula BMW events here in 2004 and once in Star Mazda in 2005… He is currently ranked sixth in series point standings with 283, only 43 points behind leader Scott Dixon (326).

SPECIAL HELMET FOR ROAD AMERICA: Graham Rahal is wearing a special helmet for the KOHLER Grand Prix as part of a fundraiser for Mercy Home for Boys & Girls in Chicago, who has been helping children escape poverty, abuse and neglect since 1887.  The opportunity to create a design for his helmet at Road America was auctioned off at a Ringside black-tie fundraiser event in October 2016 as part of an IndyCar Series and Indy 500 experience package donated by Bobby and Johanna Rahal that raised over $50,000 for Mercy Home for Boys & Girls. Bobby Rahal’s wife, Johanna, is on the Board of Regents for the home, and was recently appointed to the six-member Board of Directors.  Ross Bartels cast the winning bid and designed the helmet which was donated by Bell and will be signed after the race and presented to him.  The ringside event colors are red, black and white and those colors, along with artwork designed by one of the children at the home are incorporated into the design.

RAHAL LETTERMAN LANIGAN RACING AT ROAD AMERICA … The 2017 KOHLER Grand Prix at Road America will mark the 14th time for the team to compete in an Indy car race here and second since 2003.  The team competed in CART and Champ Car-sanctioned races here from 1992-2003 and again in 2016 with a best starting position of pole by Kenny Brack in 2001 and best finish of second place by Bobby Rahal in 1996. The team has earned a total of five podium finishes here (2nd – B. Rahal 1996; 3rd – B. Rahal 1992-1993, Kenny Brack 2000, Graham Rahal 2016). The team has also competed in ALMS and IMSA-sanctioned races here under the name BMW Team RLL since 2009 and has three wins (2009, 2010, 2012), three poles (2009, 2011, 2014) and a total of eight podium finishes here.

NEXT UP:  Pre-race warmup will take place tomorrow from 8:00-8:30 a.m. CT and the 55-lap KOHLER Grand Prix will take the Green Flag at 12:15 p.m. CT.  NBCSN will begin coverage of the KOHLER Grand Prix at 12:30 PM ET Sunday. Timing and Scoring information and live streaming video is available for all sessions from www.indycar.com and includes live commentary by the INDYCAR Radio Network.

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