Rahal Runs Second Before Experiencing Mechanical Issues

Rahal Runs Second Before Experiencing Mechanical Issues

GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 One Cure Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "About Lap 3 the throttle started to stick, and I tried to make it hang on. We did, I don't know, 15 laps that way. Finally, it was going to put me in a gravel trap or something; for sure I was hanging on way too much. The car just died, completely shut off. We had this (problem) in qualifying, luckily it was on my cool-down lap from the lap where I (qualified second). But these have to be connected. Last night we changed the throttle pedal, we changed the sensors, we checked all the tuning. I don't know, but it has to be something in the loom. It's just a shame. One Cure, this whole team, was working really good. Takuma and I were running away there at the start. I thought it was our day, man, I thought it was our weekend. Here and at St. Pete, with the flat tire, man, c'mon. At some point (our luck) has got to change."

· FAST FACTS: Rahal comfortably held second place after the start and proceeded to build a two-second gap over third place Dixon while approaching his first pit stop. He reported an issue with his throttle position sensor that led to a stuck throttle and pit to address it on Lap 18. The team reset the car and changed the throttle position sensor and he returned to the track dropped back to 16th. He cycled into 12th by the time he made his second stop on Lap 34 and then returned on track in 19th. He was in 11th place on Lap 56 when he reported that the car turned off and he stopped on tack and brought out a caution. He made his best start of second place at BMP in his 10th race here … He played a major factor in the most exciting races of the 2015 and 2016 seasons as he challenged for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama win but finished second both times. His best start is sixth in 2016… 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… He is ranked 13th in series point standings with 58 points.