Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing brought back an old friend today, announcing that Total Specialties USA, Inc., has signed a multiyear agreement for its TOTAL QUARTZ brand to serve as the team's official lubricant partner. Total will also be the primary sponsor on Graham Rahal's No. 15 Honda at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the third race weekend of the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season from April 13-15.
The announcement reunites Total with the Rahal team. In 1992, Total was an associate sponsor on the car that team owner Bobby Rahal drove to the last of his three Indy car season championships. Bobby Rahal is now co-owner of RLL along with late-night talk show icon David Letterman and Mi-Jack owner Michael Lanigan.
"I am very pleased to welcome Total back to the team after many years," Bobby Rahal said. "Reuniting with a world-class company like Total, that is not only the fourth-largest oil and gas company in the world, but one that also has a long and successful history in motorsports globally, is very exciting.
"Renewing the relationship with them after having been together for my championship year in 1992 is a real thrill for me personally, given our success. It is an exciting time for the company as they expand in North America. We look forward to helping spread the word and flying the Total colors at Long Beach as the primary sponsor and seeing them on our cars as an associate sponsor for many years to come."
Total has a prestigious history in motorsports, including appearances in Formula 1, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, World Rally Championship, Dakar Rally and being the official lubricant partner at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, which hosts an annual Verizon IndyCar Series race weekend. TOTAL QUARTZ will be a strategic brand marketing partner and technical partner for RLL.
"Across the board, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is known for its superior racing performance and Total is extremely enthusiastic to partner with them," said Christophe Doussoux, senior vice president, Lubricants for Total Specialties USA, Inc. "We look forward to building on the shared history between Total and Rahal as we embark on this partnership that demonstrates that the track is our lab and the proven performance of TOTAL QUARTZ."
Graham Rahal and reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato will form a two-car team for RLL in the 2018 season that begins with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 11 (12:30 p.m. ET, ABC and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network). The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach airs live at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network.