RAHAL WAS 11TH WHEN HE WAS HIT BY MONTOYA ON A RESTART AND FINISHED 21ST
GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 National Guard Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "I got punted. Montoya was a lap down. He almost hit me actually on the restart before. He tried to dive-bombed me into Turn 7. He was a lap down and I don't know what he was trying to do playing with the leaders but he just ruined our day. The National Guard car was really good. We were looking to be third at that point because by the time the pit sequence cycled through we were in the hunt for a win there. There's nothing you can do. I must say though that these starts are pretty stupid. With the restart zone being that late, this is what happens. You can't see back there because the rear wing is so big. We need to work with the officials to try to change this because there's going to be a lot of accidents. I said to my dad on the restart before 'Someone is going to get hurt out here because you can't see.' They need to let the leader go earlier. Right now the way it is, they're trying to be like NASCAR and this isn't NASCAR. We can't just bump draft each other and this is what can happen if we do this late restart. I feel bad for the National Guard guys because this car was good today."
FAST FACTS: Was his first Indy car race on the IMS road course. He raced in the IndyPro Series road race here in 2006 on a slightly different configuration. He won pole and led 21 laps en route to a second place finish during the US Grand Prix… His best qualifying position in the Indy 500 is fourth in 2009 with Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing and best finish is third with Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing in 2011 after he led six laps… His Indy car highlights include a win (2008) and pole (2009) in St. Petersburg.
RLL AT INDY ROAD COURSE: This marked the first race for the team at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Graham Rahal and RLL were one of two drivers/teams asked to provide input on possible changes to the course during a test here on September 4, 2013. The 2014 Indy 500 will mark the 17th time for the team to compete in the Indy 500, and event the team won from pole in 2004 with Buddy Rice.
NEXT UP: Opening Day for the 98th Indy 500 is tomorrow. Practice will take place from 12-6 p.m. ET. Timing and Scoring information is available for all sessions from www.indycar.com and includes live commentary by the IMS Radio Network.