ZIONSVILLE, Ind. (March 17, 2026) – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) announced today that two-time Indianapolis 500 champion, Takuma Sato, will return to the team for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500. AMADA AMERICA, Inc., a leading global machine tool manufacturer and supplier in the sheet metal industry, will return as the primary sponsor for 2017 and 2020 Indy 500 winner Sato’s No. 75 Honda-powered entry in the May 24 event as they were in 2024 and 2025.

The popular Japanese driver will attempt to qualify for his 17th Indianapolis 500 in 2026 and is aiming for his third victory in the legendary race after contending for the win last year.

In 2025, Sato earned his second front-row start for the team (third overall, after 2020) with a career-best starting position of second. He led the first 51 of 88 laps — the most in the race — before a pit error dropped him to a ninth-place finish. Despite the setback, he was the highest-qualifying Honda-powered driver among the 15 Honda entries, starting second.

Sato competed for RLL in 2012 and from 2018-2021 as well as the two previous Indy 500’s with primary sponsorship from AMADA. He has earned six NTT INDYCAR SERIES wins, four of which have come with RLL, including the team’s second Indy 500 win in 2020. Sato competed in oval races with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2023 and returned to RLL in 2024 for the Indy 500. He set the second fastest qualifying speed of Honda-powered drivers in 2024, his 15th time to participate in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing and sixth with RLL.

The team’s relationship with AMADA goes back to 2023 when the manufacturer was the primary sponsor of the team’s No. 30 entry at the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park on April 30, 2023. In addition to being the primary sponsor of Sato’s entry in the 2024 Indianapolis 500, they were also a major associate sponsor of the team’s No. 30 entry at the 2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, near their Buena Park, Calif. Headquarters and primary sponsor at Portland.

Sato, a native of Tokyo, Japan, has made 222 starts in the INDYCAR SERIES since his rookie season in 2010, which is seventh among active drivers and 22nd all-time. His Indy car highlights include wins in the 2017 and 2020 Indianapolis 500, 2013 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, 2018 Portland Grand Prix, 2019 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama and Bommarito 500 at WWT Raceway, with four of the six coming with RLL. Of his 14 podium finishes to date, 10 have come with RLL as have three of his 10 Indy car poles. Prior to joining the INDYCAR SERIES, he competed in 90 Formula One races between 2002-2008 with his highest finish of third at the 2004 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season resumes with the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix on March 29 at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama. The 18-race schedule includes new venues in Arlington, Texas, Markham, Ontario, Canada and Washington, D.C. Live coverage of races are carried on FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network. For more information about the series or team, visit www.indycar.com and www.rahal.com.

About AMADA AMERICA, Inc.
AMADA AMERICA, INC. is headquartered in Buena Park, California. AMADA is the leading global machine tool manufacturer and supplier in the sheet metal industry. The AMADA brand represents Quality, Service, and Sustainability. AMADA machine tools consistently set global standards for performance and reliability. Each year, AMADA continues to develop and perfect innovative sheet metal manufacturing solutions with the objective of maximizing our customers’ productivity.

About Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, based in Zionsville, Ind., is co-owned by three-time IndyCar Champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, former CBS Late Show host David Letterman and Mi-Jack co-owner Mike Lanigan. In 2025, the team will compete in its 34th year of competition and will attempt to add to its 30 Indy car wins – including the 2004 Indy 500 from pole with Buddy Rice and the 2020 Indy 500 with Takuma Sato — their 37 poles, 112 podium finishes and 1992 series championship. The team also competed in the American Le Mans Series from 2009-2013 as BMW Team RLL where they won both the Manufacturer and Team Championships in the GT category in 2010 and swept all three GT titles in 2011 – Manufacturer, Team and Driver. In 2012, the team finished second in the Team Championship and third in the Manufacturer Championship and in 2013, the team finished second in the Driver, Team and Manufacturer Championship. From 2014 to 2021, BMW Team RLL competed in the GTLM class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a two-car program. In 2022, BMW M Team RLL competed in the GTD PRO class in IMSA while simultaneously ramping up for a two-car program in the much-anticipated GTP class in IMSA for 2023. In total, the team has earned 24 wins – including the 2019 and 2020 Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance races, 30 poles and 103 podium finishes prior to the start of the 2025 season. BMW M Team RLL highlights also include second-place finishes in the Manufacturer, Team and Driver championships in 2015 and 2017 and being named the 2020 Michelin North American Endurance Champions.

QUOTEBOARD

TAKUMA SATO, Driver of the No. 75 AMADA Honda: “The moment the checkered flag fell at the 2025 Indy 500, our preparation for the 110th running had already begun. I’m incredibly excited to continue this journey with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing as we take on unfinished business. A sincere thank you to Bobby, Mike, David, and everyone at RLL for their belief and commitment. It’s an honor to once again represent AMADA as the primary partner, alongside Panasonic Automotive Systems, Niterra, Deloitte Tohmatsu, Nac, Honda, HRC, and all of our loyal sponsors who make this challenge possible. Last year, we showed tremendous speed and strong potential. Now, we return even more focused, more prepared, and more determined. The Indy 500 is always special, but this year carries extra excitement. I can’t wait to reunite with the team, see all the familiar faces, and start building momentum toward May.”

MIKE GUERIN, CEO, AMADA AMERICA, Inc.: “During AMADA’s 80th Anniversary Year, we can think of no better way to mark this extraordinary milestone than partnering with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Takuma Sato once again for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500!   Our partnership continues to reflect a shared commitment for peak performance through relentless determination and innovation.  What more fitting place to highlight our collaborative commitment to these ideals than racing’s biggest stage?”

BOBBY RAHAL, Co-Owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: “We are thrilled to have Takuma back with the team for the Indy 500. If there is a place he knows his way around, its Indy. He did a fabulous job in qualifying last year and it was just a shame what happened in the race because I think, clearly, he was the class of the field. He is a forever young guy and he brings a lot of positive energy to the team and everyone feeds off of that. It’s been a great relationship for a number of years now and I’m pleased that he wants to come back for the 500, and pleased that it is with us. We’re proud to welcome AMADA back as the primary sponsor of the entry. They’ve been a tremendous partner to our team well beyond the Indy 500, and their equipment plays a big role in our day-to-day operations. It’s a relationship we value greatly.”

MIKE LANIGAN, Co-Owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: “Takuma has always been fast at the speedway, and his two wins prove his talent on racing’s biggest stage. I’m optimistic about what we can accomplish together and excited for the opportunity to help him chase a third Indy 500 victory. We’re also grateful to have AMADA return as the primary sponsor of Takuma’s entry at the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Good Ranchers 250 – Phoenix Raceway

NTT INDYCAR SERIES – Round 2 of 18

RACE NOTES / QUOTES – Saturday, March 7, 2026

Rahal Earned His Third Top-10 Finish in Four Races at Phoenix Raceway with Ninth in the Good Ranchers 250; Schumacher Was Hindered by a Faulty Air Gun and Finished 18th While Foster Did Not Finish After Brushing the Wall

GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 WWEX Group Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “I was pleased with the car. A handful of guys got lucky with the one yellow, which really played out for them and put them into the front. Otherwise, I think we had the pace to finish on the podium or certainly in the top four or five. It was a shame that the yellow came when it did, but I thought the race was pretty good actually. There was a lot of passing, a lot of jockeying and I enjoyed that. Everyone has done a great job, Yves, Timmy, and the entire team. It’s the best car I’ve had on an oval in a long time. It was fun to go out there and be able to fight and I really enjoyed that.”

FAST FACTS: Earned his third top-10 finish in four races at Phoenix Raceway with ninth place. After qualifying third and running in the top five much of the race, the timing of a caution favored some drivers who ultimately leapfrogged him in the results as did a few others who undercut the pit strategy Rahal was on and moved ahead. It was his best start on an oval of third place for the first time since qualifying third in Texas in 2012… The 2026 race was Graham’s fourth here. The 2016 race marked Graham Rahal’s debut at the track. He started 19th and moved into the top 10 near the halfway point of the 250-lap race and was on his “in laps” of his second and third stops when a caution period came out but was able to continue on low fuel each time until the pits opened. He ran as high as third, which is the position he was running in when he entered his pit for his third and final stop but lost a spot to Simon Pagenaud. He was passed by Tony Kanaan on Lap 223 of 250 and was in fifth place when the final caution came out for debris with a few laps to go and the race ended under yellow. In 2017, he qualified 17th but was collected in a multi-car crash due to Aleshin’s Lap 1, Turn 1 spin and retired in 21st place. In 2018, he earned his best start at the track of 12th place and finished ninth after he led a total of seven laps during pit cycles. He and the team had a strong test here on Feb. 17-18 where he set the 13th fastest time… Has SIX INDYCAR SERIES wins (2008 – St. Pete street course; 2015 – Fontana Super Speedway, Mid-Ohio road course; 2016 – Texas Super Speedway; 2017 Detroit Race 1, Detroit Race 2; 2023 – IMS road, Portland road) and FIVE POLES (2009 – St. Pete street course, Kansas oval; 2017 – Detroit Race 1 street; 2023 – IMS road, Portland road) and his highest series season-ending standing is fourth place in 2015… He is ranked 15th in the point standings with 34.

LOUIS FOSTER, No. 45 Droplight Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “In the big picture, we’ve learned a lot this weekend. We’ve improved a lot and there is a lot of progress as a group. There are a lot of positives to take away as a team. From the 45 car side specifically, there are not as many. I didn’t have a great qualifying, obviously didn’t have a good race but I think its given almost a sense of clearness for me at least, that I know what the car can do and what the team can do so now we need to figure out how to do it properly. I think the tools are all there to be able to do so because it worked for the other two guys. We just need to try and figure out why something isn’t working for me that’s working for the other guys. Obviously, I’m going to keep pushing myself to try and be better and be faster and work with the team to get the car in the window I need. I think generally it was a positive weekend to look back on as a team but work to do for sure.

(On the brush with the wall:) I basically went a touch high in Turns 3 and 4, lost the rear, caught it but was a bit too high and got in the marbles and just tapped the outside wall. It wasn’t a crash, I just hit the wall and just bent the car a little bit, but it was too much to get fixed and go back out in time to move up.”

FAST FACTS: Foster qualified 16th for his first race in Phoenix and was running 19th on Lap 142 of 250 when he brushed the wall and brought out the third of four cautions in the race from Laps 142-154. The team worked to replace the upper and lower wishbone on the right rear of the car behind the pit wall for over 20 minutes but ultimately retired from the race in 23rd place. He is 20th in the point standings with 24 points.

MICK SCHUMACHER, No. 47 ENVE Composites Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “First oval race done. Obviously, it was a tough race for us today. Nonetheless there was a lot to learn, a lot to take away and understand still on our side. We had a couple of issues here and there on pit stops and the race itself on restarts. Overall, I think we can be happy with it. We had a good qualifying pace and now we have to figure out how we can make the race pace better. I think the race pace was overall okay. It was just maybe the aggressiveness at some points and being unlucky in other places like pitting under the green and then the caution coming out right after. Qualifying went well yesterday and so we will work to understand why maybe the race didn’t go quite our way and then hopefully be better for next time.”

FAST FACTS: Schumacher started fourth and had been running in the top 11 through his first stint and cycled as high as sixth place on Lap 70 before he made his first stop on Lap 71. A suspected wheel gun failure on the right front tire led to a lengthy stop and he dropped to 22nd when he returned to the track. He soldiered on through two more stops, gained valuable experience and ultimately finished 18th in his oval racing debut after qualifying fourth. Made his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut in St. Pete from a 21st place start. Sting Ray Robb, who started 20th, ran too deep and went nose-first into the wall in Turn 4 on the opening lap. Santino Ferrucci also had the same fate, and Schumacher had nowhere to go and was collected in their accident and retired in 25th place. Robb was able to continue and served a penalty for avoidable contact. He is ranked 25th in series point standings with 17.

UP NEXT: The series heads to Arlington, Texas for the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, March 13-15.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Good Ranchers 250 – Phoenix Raceway

NTT INDYCAR SERIES – Round 2 of 18

QUALIFYING NOTES / QUOTES – Friday, March 6, 2026

Rahal and Schumacher Locked Out the Second Row in Qualifying for the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway with Third and Fourth Place; Foster to Start 16th

POLE: David Malukas 2-lap avg. speed of 175.383 mph (L1: 20.4928, L2: 20.5602 mph)

3rd: Graham Rahal 2-lap avg. speed of 173.993 mph (L1: 20.6391, L2: 20.7419 mph)

4th: Mick Schumacher 2-lap avg. speed of 173.667 mph (L1: 20.7163, L2: 20.7424 mph)

16th: Louis Foster 2-lap avg. speed of 171.827 mph (L1: 20.9078, L2: 20.9947 mph)

GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 WWEX Group Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “It’s hard not to get too excited about our starting spot because we pushed so hard to be in this position for WWEX, for ENVE, for Droplight, Fifth Third, for United Rentals and all of our partners. To just have this moment is great. Obviously, it’s just qualifying and not the race so tomorrow it will be really important to be on our game and that we’ve got good race cars. The performance in qualifying was exceptional. Mick did a wonderful job. I’m super proud and super happy for him and we’ll get Louis up there. To start third is a bit of a shock for me but we’ll take it.”

FAST FACTS: Earned his best start on an oval of third place for the first time since qualifying third in Texas in 2012… The 2026 race will be Graham’s fourth here. The 2016 race marked Graham Rahal’s debut at the track. He started 19th and moved into the top 10 near the halfway point of the 250-lap race and was on his “in laps” of his second and third stops when a caution period came out but was able to continue on low fuel each time until the pits opened. He ran as high as third, which is the position he was running in when he entered his pit for his third and final stop but lost a spot to Simon Pagenaud. He was passed by Tony Kanaan on Lap 223 of 250 and was in fifth place when the final caution came out for debris with a few laps to go and the race ended under yellow. In 2017, he qualified 17th but was collected in a multi-car crash due to Aleshin’s Lap 1, Turn 1 spin and retired in 21st place. In 2018, he earned his best start at the track of 12th place and finished ninth after he led a total of seven laps during pit cycles. He and the team had a strong test here on Feb. 17-18 where he set the 13th fastest time… Has SIX INDYCAR SERIES wins (2008 – St. Pete street course; 2015 – Fontana Super Speedway, Mid-Ohio road course; 2016 – Texas Super Speedway; 2017 Detroit Race 1, Detroit Race 2; 2023 – IMS road, Portland road) and FIVE POLES (2009 – St. Pete street course, Kansas oval; 2017 – Detroit Race 1 street; 2023 – IMS road, Portland road) and his highest series season-ending standing is fourth place in 2015.

LOUIS FOSTER, No. 45 Droplight Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “It was bit of an odd one really. We made some progress at the test. My teammates are very happy, obviously, which is great for the team. I’ve definitely been struggling a bit more with the car than they have so we need to figure out why I’m having some issues and they don’t. I’m sure there is something we are missing because it doesn’t seem right. We will continue working on it in the final practice.”

FAST FACTS: Foster qualified 16th for his first race in Phoenix. He has had good success on ovals since competing in the INDY NXT and INDYCAR Series since 2023. His top INDYCAR finish on an oval is 12th in the 2025 Indy 500 and this past weekend in St. Pete, he earned his top overall finish in the series with ninth place. He’s looking forward to another opportunity to better that on Saturday after setting the 16th fastest time at the recent test there.

MICK SCHUMACHER, No. 47 ENVE Composites Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “It (qualifying) was really just about putting everything on the line and trying to maximize the package that we have. I think there is still a little bit in there. I guess going out there (on track to qualify) first is maybe not always easy. In this case we didn’t have a reference beforehand but maybe that was also not too bad because we just had to go and do whatever we do. Overall, I think as a team it was a great effort there. Now its on to highline practice and FP2 to get ready for the race. No doubt it’s going to be tough. I’m excited about going racing and I’m excited about starting fourth.”

FAST FACTS: Qualified fourth for his oval racing debut in Phoenix. Made his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut in St. Pete from a 21st place start. Sting Ray Robb, who started 20th, ran too deep and went nose-first into the wall in Turn 4 on the opening laps. Santino Ferrucci also had the same fate and Schumacher had nowhere to go and was collected in their accident and retired in 25th place. Robb was able to continue and served a penalty for avoidable contact.

RLL AT PHOENIX RACEWAY

Graham Rahal and Mick Schumacher will share the second row for the start of tomorrow’s race. The last time there were two RLL cars in the top four on an oval was the Chicago race in 2005 when Danica Patick and Buddy Rice qualified 1-2. The 2026 Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway will mark the 11th Indy car race for Rahal Letterman Lanigan (RLL) Racing here, and first since 2018. In only the second race for the team, then named Rahal Hogan Racing, Bobby Rahal led all 200 laps en route to victory with a margin of 22.35-seconds over Eddie Cheever and third place Emerson Fittipaldi in 1992. Three-year-old Graham Rahal was on the podium with his father, Bobby, for the team’s first victory..

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
NTT INDYCAR SERIES
QUALIFYING NOTES / QUOTES – February 28, 2026

Foster Earns His Top Starting Spot at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg With Ninth Place; Rahal to Start 18th and Schumacher 21st

1)   Scott McLaughlin           1:00.5426 / 107.032 mph       (Group x, Round 3)
9)    Louis Foster                  1:00.9472 / 106.322 mph       (Group 1, Round 2)
18)  Graham Rahal               1:01.2257 / 105.838 mph       (Group 2, Round 1)
21)  Mick Schumacher         1:01.3983 / 105.540 mph       (Group 1, Round 1)

GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 Fifth Third Bank Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “I thought we made some good changes between practice and qualifying for sure. We were on a (lap time) number good enough to advance but in Turn 9 I just got a big oversteer moment and that cost me. I was on a 61 flat and in my group to advance was a 61.17 so I didn’t even need a tenth over what I did to advance so I had plenty in the bag and I’m just disappointed that it didn’t stick and ultimately in qualifying that’s what you’re chasing. You’re chasing every last little bit; being a little more aggressive with throttle pick up, a little more aggressive in brake zones, more rolling speeds and all these things. I think I’m most bummed because of that. Frankly we had enough (to advance to the next round) and instead of starting 18^th versus six to eight positions higher, I’m bummed. I don’t think we had enough to get to the Fast Six but it’s still six or eight positions better.
(On the mandate of running two sets of alternate tires in the race impacting the outcome:) ”It depends on how long these tires last. If they make it then everyone is going to be in a similar position but obviously too, we just need to stay out of the trouble at the start. That’s going to be pretty key for us. It may be a mess at the start and probably a three-stop race — last year it was a two — so it may be a little different in that regard, but we’ll see. We’re going to move the Fifth Third Bank Honda up as far as we can in the race.”

• FAST FACTS: Will make his 19th start at the track from 18th place… His best start here is pole in 2009 and best finish is a win in 2008 in his IndyCar Series debut – both history-making moments at the time as he became the youngest race winner in series history (2008), and youngest pole winner in series history (2009). Both records were eclipsed in 2019 by Colton Herta but he held them for 10 and 11 years, respectively.  Overall, he has earned one top-five and seven top-10 starts here and has two top-five and seven top-10 finishes, including sixth place here in 2023. Year-by-year details are available upon request… Has SIX INDYCAR SERIES wins (2008 – St. Pete street course; 2015 – Fontana Super Speedway, Mid-Ohio road course; 2016 – Texas Super Speedway; 2017 Detroit Race 1, Detroit Race 2; 2023 – IMS road, Portland road) and FIVE POLES (2009 – St. Pete street course, Kansas oval; 2017 – Detroit Race 1 street; 2023 – IMS road, Portland road) and his highest series season-ending standing is fourth place in 2015.

LOUIS FOSTER, No. 45 Droplight Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “I think generally it was so far a good weekend. I think there was maybe a bit more on the table in qualifying, but I think a P9 start, at the start of the year, is a good place to be. I’m happy with that, especially with the issues yesterday and the lack of running this morning in Practice 2. All things considered, I’m pretty happy with that result.  It’s a great place to start for the first race of the year. I’ve always loved this track and I’m looking forward to finally, hopefully, getting a St. Pete race.
“It will be an interesting race for sure. I think there’s going to be some stints where we’re going to be driving slowly to make the tires last for as long as we need to make them last without making an extra stop. It’s going to be an interesting race for sure. I don’t know how it’s going to play out but it might be a bit like Detroit last year where we were trying to make a tire last for X amount of laps, which is going to be difficult. We’ll just wait to see how it plays out.”

• FAST FACTS: The 2024 INDY NXT Champion earned the 2025 Rookie of the Year honors last year and will begin his sophomore season in 2026. He made his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut here in St. Pete last year from a 16th place qualifying position but was collected in an opening lap incident that also forced the retirement of 11th place starter Nolan Siegel and 13th place Will Power so he is looking to get a full INDYCAR race under his belt this weekend. In INDY NXT, Foster started on pole in St. Pete in 2023 and finished 14th and started fourth and earned a third-place podium finish in 2024. Prior to that, he competed in the Indy Pro 2000 doubleheader here in 2022 with a third-place finish in Race 1 and a second-place finish in Race 2.

MICK SCHUMACHER, No. 47 ENVE Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “Honestly, we had a really good car. We’ve done some big changes to it and all of them kind of pointed in the right direction. I guess we saw that on the first tire. Obviously a lot of other people went on blacks but we went on reds (alternates) directly so there a certain time delta in there but unfortunately on the second set we had some big traffic in the first lap, which was already good enough to advance and unfortunately there was no real action being taken about that so I have to understand that a little bit better.
(On two stints with the alternate tires): ”I have no pre-thoughts about it because I have no experience so for me it’s going to be quite normal. I’m excited the reds felt really good on our car so hopefully we’ll be able to pull that through into the race and make our way forward. We have Scott Dixon there, in the back with us so hopefully we’ll be able to hook myself to his gearbox and just follow his through. He’s pretty good at getting everything sorted and I think he understands the race really well so I can learn something from him there. I’m really happy about the job we did all weekend already so far. Now we’ve got to put the frosting on the cake with a good race result even from where we are now and get a race result. I think we, as a group, can get there.”

• FAST FACTS: Will make his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut in St. Pete from a 21st place start. His first experience in an Indy car took place at the IMS road course on October 13, 2025 and he was announced as an RLL driver for 2026 on November 24. The month of February has been an intense one for Schumacher who performed his first test on an oval at Homestead-Miami Speedway on February 4, followed that up with his first test with the full INDYCAR field at the Sebring road course on February 9-10 and participated in his first INDYCAR Open Test on the Phoenix International Raceway oval, February 17-18. The Swiss-born son of legendary seven-time Formula One champion, Michael Schumacher, brings with him an impressive resume that includes 43 Formula One starts and a best finish of sixth place, along with three podiums in WEC competition, where he competed in 2024 and 2025 for Alpine.

NEXT UP:  Warm-up will take place from 9:05 – 9:35 a.m. ET tomorrow (FS1). The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be televised live on FOX beginning at 12:00 PM ET on Sunday, March 1.

Droplight to Return as Primary Sponsor of 2025 Rookie of the Year Louis Foster’s Entry

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. (October 27, 2025) – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) announced today a long-term, multi-year extension of its partnership with Droplight, a full-throttle venture studio recognized for its bold brand strategy, media expertise, and innovation-driven approach to market growth. The partnership first began at the legendary 2025 Indianapolis 500, where Droplight debuted as the primary sponsor of the No. 45 entry for rising star Louis Foster, and leveraged the global stage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to accelerate exposure of their Desnuda Tequila brand. 

In June it was announced that Droplight would continue as the primary sponsor of Foster’s entry from Round 8 of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES event in St. Louis through the end of the 17-race season. During that stretch, Foster earned his first INDYCAR pole at Road America en route to winning 2025 Rookie of the Year honors at the season finale. 

Now, with a long-term vision in place, Droplight will continue to be the primary sponsor of the team’s No. 45 entry, showcasing a diverse portfolio of brands through INDYCAR’s dynamic platform. That includes standouts like Ichor Water, their Wisconsin-based hydrogen and alkaline beverage brand, which gained major exposure during the Milwaukee round. Droplight’s expansive ecosystem spans entertainment, tech, consumer brands, and media, bringing a unique and synergistic energy to everything RLL is building. Their growing presence in the Indianapolis market in particular includes partnerships with the Colts and Indy Eleven, cementing them as a major force across multiple sports properties.

QUOTE BOARD:

JOSEPH ANDERSON, CEO of Droplight: “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and to help carry the momentum we built together into the future. This collaboration embodies what Droplight stands for—innovation, authenticity, and performance that inspires. Through the RLL platform, we’re proud to amplify the voices of disruptive brands within our ecosystem such as Desnuda Organic Tequila, ICHOR Hydrogen Water, Pregame, RF Health, and Call Sign. Together, we’re redefining how purpose-driven companies connect with fans, athletes, and markets around the world.”

BOBBY RAHAL, Co-Owner of RLL: “From our very first meeting, it was clear that Droplight would bring value well beyond the racetrack. This long-term commitment solidifies a partnership built on creativity, performance, and shared ambition. We’re thrilled to keep building the future together.”

JAY FRYE, President of RLL: “A long term commitment from a partner like Droplight is something that all teams strive for and we couldn’t be more fortunate to have this relationship with the great group of people at Droplight.”

LOUIS FOSTER, Driver of the No. 45 Droplight Honda: “Having Droplight not only return — but return in a multi-year agreement — is exciting. They first joined us at the Indy 500 with their Desnuda brand and I got to know the guys and girls with Droplight and they are a great group of people. They are super creative, fully engaged and always looking at how to elevate everyone around them. They are also expanding into other sports which is exciting since that synergy will help all of us collectively. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

About Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, based in Zionsville, Ind., is co-owned by three-time IndyCar Champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, former CBS Late Show host David Letterman and Mi-Jack co-owner Mike Lanigan. In 2026, the team will compete in its 35th year of competition and will attempt to add to its 30 Indy car wins – including the 2004 Indy 500 from pole with Buddy Rice and the 2020 Indy 500 with Takuma Sato — their 38 poles, 112 podium finishes and 1992 series championship. The team also competed in the American Le Mans Series from 2009-2013 as BMW Team RLL where they won both the Manufacturer and Team Championships in the GT category in 2010 and swept all three GT titles in 2011 – Manufacturer, Team and Driver. In 2012, the team finished second in the Team Championship and third in the Manufacturer Championship and in 2013, the team finished second in the Driver, Team and Manufacturer Championship. From 2014 to 2021, BMW Team RLL competed in the GTLM class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a two-car program. In 2022, BMW M Team RLL competed in the GTD PRO class in IMSA while simultaneously ramping up for a two-car program in the much-anticipated GTP class in IMSA for 2023. In total, the team earned 25 wins – including the 2019 and 2020 Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance races, 34 poles and 107 podium finishes. BMW M Team RLL highlights also include second-place finishes in the Manufacturer, Team and Driver championships in 2015 and 2017 and being named the 2020 Michelin North American Endurance Champions.

About Droplight:

Droplight is a venture studio and strategic partner for brands, founders, and institutions ready to scale with purpose. From investment and brand strategy to media production and market activation, Droplight ignites growth and delivers measurable impact across industries. — www.droplight.com 

About Desnuda Tequila: In a world of industrial spirits and celebrity tequila, Desnuda stays small by choice. They roast their agave in stone ovens. They ferment in closed tanks for purity. They distill in copper stills guided by the experience of generations. Every batch is made the long way, because it’s the only way that feels honest. – www.desnudatequila.com

About ICHOR Hydrogen Water: ICHOR Hydrogen Water is a performance-driven hydration brand that infuses purified water with molecular hydrogen and balanced alkalinity to support energy, recovery, and cellular health — redefining what it means to drink with purpose. – www.ichorwater.com

About Pregame: Pregame is a leader in creating sportstech products that will transform how people experience and engage with the culture of preparing their bodies for physical activity. – www.getpregame.com

About RF Health: At Recovery Force Health, their mission is to be a leader in providing innovative devices and digital health solutions that alleviate unnecessary barriers for healthcare professionals. They invented the world’s first wearable therapeutic compression device that also measures and displays real-time patient compliance (wear time) and mobility data. – www.rfhealth.com

About Call Sign: Call Sign is an American-designed and built timepiece brand crafted for land, sea and air—engineered for individuals who don’t need extra complications to get the job done and built to perform wherever their mission leads. – www.mycallsign.com