GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 National Guard Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "It was a long race and the National Guard team fought hard tonight. There were long stretches of green. We tried really hard to get the car better and better during the race and we did improve but we've got to get more competitive. I think we had some quick lap times out there but we're still a little ways off. To finish 12th feels relatively good but we expect a lot better for this team and myself. To finish tonight says a lot; it's a tough place. Grip and maintaining the tires is a premium here and we struggled a little bit tonight but we'll keep working hard and move forward. We have a lot of oval testing coming up during the break before Houston which is a good thing; we can work hard with it. I think our street course package is good so without a doubt I feel pretty confident that we can have really good races in Houston and be competitive."
FAST FACTS: Started 21st for his sixth event here and drove to a 12th place finish… He qualified 19th in 2013 and started 17th after two cars ahead served 10-grid penalties for unapproved engine changes. He struggled with the handling of his race car and finished 21st. He set the fastest single lap in qualifying in 2012 but the grid is set based on a two-lap average and he qualified third in 2012. In the race, he led 27 laps but a slight brush of the wall with two laps to go forced him to settle for second place with Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing (SCCGR). He qualified 20th for the first of two heat races in 2011 and finished ninth with SCCGR. He drew the fourth starting spot for Race 2 in 2011 and finished 30th. He did not compete in Texas in 2010 during his partial season of competition. He qualified 12th with Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing (NHLR) in 2009 but retired in 22nd place after contact. In 2008, he qualified 18th and finished 11th with NHLR.
NEXT UP: After five straight weeks of Verizon IndyCar Series competition, the series will take the next two weekends off. During the two weekend racing hiatus before the Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston doubleheader June 27-29, the team will test at the Milwaukee, Iowa and Pocono oval tracks.