Winning comes with the territory for Rahal

The pride of a father was clearly evident in Bobby Rahal's voice.

"It's fantastic," said the retired Champ Car legend as he watched the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing crew strapping his son, Graham, securely into the cockpit of the Panoz DP01 for the start of yesterday's preliminary qualifying session for tomorrow's Toronto Grand Prix.

"I'm very proud of him."

In 1986, three years before his son was born, the elder Rahal had roared out of the very same pit lane to win the inaugural Toronto Champ Car race, one of 24 victories he recorded before his retirement in 1998.

But almost as soon as Graham Rahal could walk it was evident that he would follow in his father's footsteps – make that tire tracks.

"There was no question he would be involved in racing," said Rahal. "When he was growing up he was stuck to my side. We used to call him Shadow.

"We'd go racing by ourselves and then to dinner, but he wouldn't bug me to go home. When he got too tired he'd put his head on my lap and go to sleep. I never pushed him. I never even recommended him. This was what he wanted to do. It was very clear." More at The Star