Sonoma Post-Race Report

RACE NOTES/QUOTES for GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma - Sonoma Raceway - Saturday, July 13, 2013

GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 Midas / Big O Tires Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "The race was going really well, the Big O Tires / Midas car felt pretty solid to be honest. I was just going through the motions and trying to save the car, save the tires and unfortunately we got to that restart and we were the only ones on (Firestone) blacks and got up in there with Marco (Andretti) and (Simon) Pagenaud and the next thing I knew I was sideways. I'm not really sure what happened but at the end of the day whatever happened in the incident bent something so the rest of the race was a bit of a struggle. It wasn't perfect but we got through it."

FAST FACTS: Was his sixth Indy car race here. He started eighth, but was involved in an incident while sixth with Simon Pagenaud and Marco Andretti which dropped him to the back of the field. He steadily moved forward and finished 12th. His best start is sixth place with Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing (NHLR) in 2009 and best finish is fifth with Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing (SCCGR) in 2012. He has finished in the top-10 in all but one of his five races (broken drive shaft in '09). He qualified 15th for SCCGR in 2012, started 13th after grid penalties were served and finished fifth. He qualified 13th for SCCGR in 2011 and finished eighth. In 2010, he qualified 16th with NHR and finished 9th. Made the final Firestone Fast Six in qualifying six times in the seven road/street races in 2009 and started sixth in Sonoma for NHLR. Contact on the opening lap with Marco Andretti forced an early stop for a new front wing but his drive shaft broke when he attempted to leave the pits. After the car was repaired in the garage area, he returned to the track many laps down in 21st position and ultimately retired in the same place after completing 30 of the 75 laps. He started 15th and finished 8th here in 2008 with NHLR… His best finish this season is second place in Long Beach and best start is 8th at Sonoma… Is ranked 16th in series standings with 252 points.