This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 66.144.71.60 (talk) at 18:34, 2 May 2006. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 18:34, 2 May 2006 by 66.144.71.60 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Rahal Letterman Racing (RLR) is an auto racing team that currently has a three car livery in the Indy Racing League. It is co-owned by 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal and television talk show host and comedian David Letterman.
When the team was formed in 1992, it was known as Rahal-Hogan Racing. It changed its name to Team Rahal when then-co-owner Carl Hogan left, and it changed its name again to Rahal Letterman Racing in May 2004.
For the 2005 season, RLR's three drivers were Buddy Rice, who won the 2004 Indianapolis 500 while driving for the team, Vitor Meira, who finished second in the 2005 Indianapolis 500, Danica Patrick, who finished fourth in the 2005 Indianapolis 500, and had the highest finish of any female driver (3 previous) in the history of the Indianapolis 500.
Also in the 2005 Indianapolis 500, former team member Kenny Bräck, who was replaced by Rice when he suffered a serious injury in 2003, replaced Rice when he was injured in pre-race practice. Rice was able to recover in time to race in the next Indy Racing League race.
The Rahal-Letterman team looked for high hopes in 2006. While Meira had left the team after the 2005 season (he joined Panther Racing), he replaced by Paul Dana, taking along the sponsorship from Ethanol.
The team placed three cars in the top nine for the Toyota Indy 300 during March 25, 2006 qualifying (Patrick third, Rice sixth, Dana ninth), and expected good things to come the next day for the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Unfortunately, tragedy took place during final practice Sunday morning. Vision Racing's Ed Carpenter crashed in turn two and the car slid down the 20-degree banking. Dana, who seemed to not receive the signal from the spotter, ran into the gearbox section of Carpenter's car, sending Dana's car flying on the backstretch. Dana died in the hospital later that afternoon, and the entire team, including Patrick and Rice, withdrew immediately.
Patrick and Rice raced together at St. Petersburg, Florida with the third car vacant out of respect, but effective the Bridgestone Indy Japan 300 at Motegi, Japan, Jeff Simmons will be added as the team's third driver to join Patrick and Rice.
The Indy Japan race was uneventful for all three drivers. Jeff Simmons had an unfortunate start to his promising career. He had an accident in practice and engaged in another accident during the race. Jeff did not finish the Japan race. Danica started the race in 13th place and finished in 8th place while Buddy began the race in the 18th spot and finished 5th. Danica is currently on tour promoting her new book. All three drivers will be starting their quest to win the Indy 500 in one week.
CART Drivers
IRL Drivers
Current
- Danica Patrick
- Buddy Rice
- Jeff Simmons -- as of the third race in 2006.
Former
- Vitor Meira (moved to Panther Racing for the 2006 season)
- Roger Yasukawa (left the team after 2004 season)
- Kenny Bräck (left the team after 2005 season)
NOTE: Paul Dana was killed in final practice for the March 26, 2006 Toyota Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and never officially recorded a start in the IndyCar Series with the team. Dana was never credited with an IRL start at the team by the IRL record book. After sitting out the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Jeff Simmons was named to drive the Ethanol #17 entry for the balance of the 2006 season.