From IMS
INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, May 5, 2010 – Talented young star Graham Rahal will team up with his father, 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, for the first time in an IZOD IndyCar Series car in the 2010 edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Graham Rahal, from New Albany, Ohio, will drive the No. 30 Rahal Letterman Racing entry. The younger Rahal, 21, will attempt to make his third career Indianapolis 500 start on Sunday, May 30 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“I am extremely excited to be racing with my father and with this team,” Graham Rahal said. “I have known a lot of the guys on this team since I was very young, and to go after the dream of winning Indianapolis with them means a lot to me and my family. I know we can put together a quality effort, and we expect to be competitive.”
Graham Rahal drove for Newman/Haas Racing in 2008 and 2009 at Indy, with a best start of fourth last year. He is the youngest driver to win an IZOD IndyCar Series race, triumphing at age 19 in 2008 at St. Petersburg, Fla.
Rahal’s father finished in the top 10 seven times in 13 career starts at Indy from 1982-95, including his emotional 1986 victory. Bobby Rahal also is a three-time national champion.
“I am thrilled that Graham is joining us for the Indianapolis 500,” Bobby Rahal said. “To have watched his career grow from the first day in karts and now to be there side-by-side with him as he tries to win Indy for himself and for our team is a dream come true for me.”
While this is Graham Rahal’s first IZOD IndyCar Series start with his father’s team, he has raced for RLR in its sports car program.
RLR, which is co-owned by television icon David Letterman, has enjoyed recent success at Indianapolis. Buddy Rice won the race from the pole in 2004, and Danica Patrick and Ryan Hunter-Reay earned Chase Rookie of the Year honors in RLR machines in 2005 and 2008, respectively.
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2010 Indy 500 tickets: Tickets for the 2010 Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 30, are on sale now. Race Day ticket prices start at just $20.
Fans can order tickets online at www.imstix.com, call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street. Online orders can be made at any time. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.