It’s official – Rahal to drive for Father’s team

One of the things that gives the Indianapolis 500 its mystique and honored standing with sports fans around the world, is that the young stars of the racing world can annually test their mettle on the same 2.5-mile oval where legends once plied their trade.

At this year’s 500-mile classic, Rahal Letterman Racing will provide the unique opportunity for open-wheel fans to see one of the sport’s young stars chase his racing dream – directly under the tutelage of one of the Brickyard’s former conquerors.

1986 Indianapolis 500 champion Bobby Rahal and his Rahal Letterman Racing team announced today that its entry in the 2010 Indy 500 would be piloted by his son Graham.

“I am thrilled that Graham is joining us for the Indianapolis 500," said three-time Indy Car title winner Bobby Rahal. “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."

Graham, who is the youngest driver ever to win an Indy Car race, will be racing for his father’s Ohio-based team for the first time in Indy Cars, although the 21-year-old Rahal has raced with RLR in its sportscar programs in past seasons.

“I am extremely excited to be racing with my father and with this team," grinned the younger Rahal. “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."

Rahal, whose previous two trips to the Brickyard have come in Newman/Haas Racing machines, started fourth in last year’s Indy 500. He has competed in three Indy Car races in 2010, scoring a top-10 finish at St. Petersburg in his first start of the year.

RLR, which is co-owned by television icon David Letterman, has had a number of successes at Indianapolis since the team’s inception in 1992. Buddy Rice won from the pole in 2004, and both Danica Patrick (2005) and Ryan Hunter-Reay (2008) were named Indy 500 Rookie of the Year winners while carrying RLR colors.

The #30 Dallara/Honda/Firestone expects to be announcing further details concerning its livery and potential sponsorship for the 500 in the coming week.

The 94th running of the Indianapolis 500 will take place on May 30 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and can be seen live on ABC beginning at noon Eastern Time. In addition, Versus will carry live Indy qualifying on May 22nd and 23rd, and will also air the activities of Carburetion Day on May 28.