ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Teenager Graham Rahal survived a spinout and came back to win in his first IRL IndyCar Series start yesterday, holding off veteran Helio Castroneves to become the youngest winner in major open-wheel history.The victory by the son of longtime open-wheel star Bobby Rahal also was a crowning moment for the former Champ Car World Series teams that only last month became part of a unified American open-wheel series under the IRL banner.
At 19 years, 93 days, Rahal broke the age record set two years ago in Sonoma, Calif., by another driver from a racing family, Marco Andretti, who was 19 years, 167 days old.
"It doesn't get much sweeter than this," said Rahal
With his father, co-owner of the rival Rahal Letterman Racing team watching from the top of his team's pit box, the younger Rahal, the top rookie in Champ Car in 2007, took the lead by passing Ryan Hunter-Reay, his father's driver, on a restart on the 65th of 83 laps.
"I'm so proud of him," the elder Rahal said.
With his father, co-owner of the rival Rahal Letterman Racing team watching from the top of his team's pit box, the younger Rahal, the top rookie in Champ Car in 2007, took the lead by passing Ryan Hunter-Reay, his father's driver, on a restart on the 65th of 83 laps.
"I'm so proud of him," the elder Rahal said.
courtesy of http://www.torontosun.com
For the record, I said the former Champ Car teams would become a factor sooner rather then later. I'm looking pretty good so far...
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