Rahal Collects Pair of Fourths at Mid-Ohio Doubleheader

Rahal Collects Pair of Fourths at Mid-Ohio Doubleheader

RACE 1:

GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 United Rentals Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "It was super-hot. It's a good thing it wasn't a 90-degree July day. I'm awfully proud of the United Rentals guys. I thought our strategy was great and the car was very good in race trim. I think we were a little quicker than Newgarden and Rossi but I got held up by Pagenaud there coming out of the pits on that last stop or otherwise I think we had him (Rossi). I thought we had a good opportunity there to get Alex but all in all it was a great run for us. It feels good to get a good result after St. Louis which was kind of a bruiser. Our guys did a wonderful job in the pits. The last few races, they've been lightning fast. We've just got to keep at it. It was a tough day. Tomorrow is going to be tougher. Guys are going to fall out of the saddle tomorrow. That is physical. It is hot, there's not a lot of air, ad it was dirty. Tomorrow will be a bruiser. We switch over to the Fifth Third Bank car so we're excited about that switch over. And we raised a lot of money for Turns for Troops today so all in all a good day."

  • FAST FACTS: Started eighth and worked his way to the front by running longer on his first stint. He made his second and final stop from the lead (although he wasn't scored as having led) on Lap 48. Once others pit, he took over fourth place and continued his pursuit of Rossi for a third-place podium finish. He was within -0.5-seconds and pressured Rossi into several mistakes but was unable to pull off a pass despite being alongside him a few times. He took the checkered flag in fourth place… Was his 13th race here. His best start is fourth in 2009 and 2017 and his best finish is his win here in 2015. In addition to Indy car races here, at the age of 16 in 2005, Rahal became the youngest to claim the SCCA National Formula Atlantic championship at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs here by a dominant 43-seconds. He also competed in the Star Mazda race here in 2005 (S/F 4/9) and tested a Grand Am car here in 2007… Has SIX IndyCar Series wins (2008 - St. Pete street course; 2015 - Fontana Super Speedway, Mid-Ohio road course; 2016 - Texas Super Speedway; 2017 Detroit Race 1, Detroit Race 2) and THREE poles (2009 - St. Pete street course, Kansas oval; 2017 - Detroit Race 1 street) and his highest series season-ending standing is fourth place in 2015… Rahal is ranked seventh in series point standings with a total of 268.


RACE 2:

GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 Fifth Third Bank Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "The Fifth Third Bank car was strong today. We were able to pass a few guys on the second stint but didn't feel great on those reds towards the end. I was struggling a little bit and I think that hurt us. I think we had more pace than those guys (top-three) but the track position was hard. All in all, I thought our strategy was good, the pit stops were good and the Fifth Third Bank car was good. Two fourth-place finishes here is not too bad. We would have liked to gain a little more points on the guys ahead but we'll take it. I think we closed the gap to some. That was as physical of a weekend as you are going to have. Congrats to Colton (Herta) on a great run. This weekend we raised $7500 for Turns for Troops with United Rentals so that's another thing to be happy about."

  • FAST FACTS: Wet conditions in qualifying led to havoc and a lot of cars off course. Rahal set the sixth fastest time in his group to start 12. Rahal avoided a multi-car crash set off by Ferruccci on the opening lap to run sixth. He lost a spot to Ericsson on Lap 8 while battling with a loose helmet pad that ultimately flew out of the cockpit. Rookie Kellett spun so the majority of the field jumped into pit lane on Lap 15 for their first stops and Rahal retuned to the track in 10th, after having lost one spot to Newgarden. Once the race restarted he got by Newgarden, then Ericsson and gained another spot when Dixon spun on Lap 22. He then passed Pagenaud. On Laps 29 and 32, Andretti and Sato made their out-of-sequence stops and Rahal ran fourth. He cycled into the lead on Lap 46 before his final stop on Lap 47 and retuned in fifth, behind Dixon who had to make another stop. He began to reel in third place Hunter-Reay and closed to -0.6 by the checkered flag after 75 laps… Was his 14th race here. His best start is fourth in 2009 and 2017 and his best finish is his win here in 2015. In addition to Indy car races here, at the age of 16 in 2005, Rahal became the youngest to claim the SCCA National Formula Atlantic championship at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs here by a dominant 43-seconds. He also competed in the Star Mazda race here in 2005 (S/F 4/9) and tested a Grand Am car here in 2007… Has SIX IndyCar Series wins (2008 - St. Pete street course; 2015 - Fontana Super Speedway, Mid-Ohio road course; 2016 - Texas Super Speedway; 2017 Detroit Race 1, Detroit Race 2) and THREE poles (2009 - St. Pete street course, Kansas oval; 2017 - Detroit Race 1 street) and his highest series season-ending standing is fourth place in 2015… Rahal moved from seventh to sixth in series point standings with a total of 301.