Graham Rahal has an thought of what traits his subsequent teammate could have at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL)in 2025.
When the checkered flag falls subsequent weekend at Nashville Superspeedway, it’s going to mark an finish of the workforce’s present lineup consisting of Christian Lundgaard, Pietro Fittipaldi and Rahal. Lundgaard is certain for Arrow McLaren to interchange Alexander Rossi and full the workforce’s roster for subsequent 12 months alongside Pato O’Ward and Nolan Siegel.
Past Rahal, it stays a little bit of an unknown what RLL will seem like for 2025, however there’s an thought of what he’s on the lookout for in a teammate.
“I feel what I am on the lookout for is someone that helps add to the equation,” stated Rahal, 35.
“We as a workforce must be shifting ahead, and we have to enhance. And that is the gist of it. I would like someone that is going to have the ability to are available and assist me. And so assist not solely me, however assist the workforce.
“We have to transfer ahead. We have to strive various things. We have to get higher. We discovered some great things at St. Louis [Gateway]. … However it will be nice to have someone with expertise. I’ve not been shy about that.”
Eying Rossi?
Among the many notable free brokers Rahal identified was the very individual his soon-to-be-ex-teammate is changing: Rossi.
“It might be nice to have a man like Alex, however clearly Pietro is doing a significantly better job,” Rahal continued. “I feel what individuals do not see about Pietro, too, is his race tempo has at all times been very sturdy. He is an excellent racer. , qualifying tempo, issues like which might be going to enhance. However his race tempo could be very robust, which means good. Like he is a tricky man; when he is behind you, he is on you want just a little bulldog.”
Rahal additionally prolonged ideas to Juri Vips, the previous Pink Bull reserve driver who was dropped from after utilizing a racial slur on a dwell gaming stream in 2022. After making two begins with RLL on the finish of final season, Vips was retained because the workforce’s growth driver this 12 months, additionally making a one-off look as a part of a fourth entry final month at Portland.
“After which, lastly, I’ve stated all alongside Juri deserves a shot; and if it isn’t with us, I hope someone appears at Juri as a result of Juri is an expert,” Rahal stated.
“And I perceive what’s occurred prior to now, however we have to all transfer on. We have made errors in life; we gotta transfer ahead, and Juri is a proficient, proficient human being that deserves a chance, and I assumed final weekend he was a professional. He got here in; he was quick immediately, struggled just a little bit in qualifying, struggled just a little bit within the race, however these issues are to be anticipated.
“So let’s examine what occurs right here, man. I do not know proper now the place we’re at as a workforce. I do not know, , the place issues are going to finish up. However there’s loads of nice choices on the market, for positive.”
Pietro Fittipaldi, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Photos
In circling again to Rossi, Rahal offered extra perception whereas additionally acknowledging that he might finally discover himself probably making workforce choices much like his father, 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, considered one of three co-owners of RLL.
“I am a cheerleader for him [Rossi],” Rahal stated. “I at all times have been, saved in contact with him very carefully because the Andretti days and the place he might go. Look, guys, the details are the details, which is perhaps some day I make these choices, however that day just isn’t in the present day. So, , I can have my opinions, I can say my piece; that does not imply that is what is going on to occur.”
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