Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Honda Indy Toronto 2 in T.O. – Streets around Exhibition Place
Verizon IndyCar Series
RACE 1 NOTES/QUOTES – Sunday, July 20, 2014
RAHAL FINISHED SIXTH IN RACE 1 OF THE HONDA INDY TORONTO 2 IN T.O; FILIPPI WAS FIFTH WHEN CONTACT ENDED HIS RACE IN 22ND PLACE
GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 National Guard Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “A top six feels good. We had a very solid race. I got a couple of guys on the start and then thankfully avoided the crash and really just stayed out of trouble. I made a few passes throughout the race but I think the key was to stay out of trouble and we did and got a top six. Obviously we would have liked to continue to push the National Guard car forward but we’ll take it. We were able to learn what the car would do over the entire race and that’s a big perk for us. We’ve got to keep working. We’ve got a long one ahead of us and a lot of laps. I think there is a great opportunity for us to continue to gain some points on guys that we’re around (in the standings) and we’ll go from there.”
LUCA FILIPPI, No. 16 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “My front wing was damaged on the right side from the opening lap so I was struggling with so much understeer because of the downforce we were losing and I had also worn the front right (tire). On that lap I just went a little off the racing line because of the extra understeer and went on the marbles and hit the wall and that was it. It’s such a shame because I was keeping the pace with the guys up front and everything was going well. I think we have a good pace for the second race. We just need to try to overtake people because we are starting from entrant points so we’re starting dead last. I will do my best.”
RLL AT TOROTO: The Honda Indy Toronto will mark the 15th year of Indy car racing for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) here and the team’s 16th and 17th races. The team also competed in the Atlantic Series races here in 2003 and 2004. The team earned a total of four second place finishes (Rahal 1992, 1994, 1995; Michel Jourdain Jr. 2003) and best start was pole in 1992 by Bobby Rahal. Prior to the 2014 event, the team prepared a total of 26 Indy car entries for drivers Bobby Rahal (1992-98), Mike Groff (1994), Raul Boesel (1995), Bryan Herta (1996-99), Max Papis (1999-2001), Jimmy Vasser (2002), Michel Jourdain Jr. (2002-03), Takuma Sato (2012), Graham Rahal (2013 x 2) and James Jakes (2013 x 2).The team also prepared three Toyota Atlantic entries (Danica Patrick 2003-2004; Chris Festa 2004).The team has earned FIVE podiums (3rd – Rahal 1996), 9 top-five’s and 17 top-10 finishes at the track. Team co-owner Rahal competed in Toronto from 1986-1991 as a driver and from 1992-1998 as a team owner/driver. In 13 events, he earned one WIN (1986), two POLES (1987, 1992), and seven PODIUMS. He also started on the front row three times, earned 10 top-five and 11 top-10 finishes.
NEXT UP: The standing start for Race 2 will take place at 4:15 p.m. will take place. NBCSN will begin their broadcast at 3 p.m. ET.
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