took a hard-earned and long-awaited podium end result within the Kids’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park.
The Ohio native rolled off third after a powerful qualifying show Saturday on a used set of softer alternate tires. As soon as the inexperienced flag dropped, he was a gentle frontrunner all through the competition, holding down second-place for a majority of the race – main one lap – and even drawing degree on tempo with eventual winner for a portion of the early operating. Though a runner-up end result was in play, his #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda was handed by a surging and relegated to 3rd with three laps to go, the place he remained via the checkered flag.
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The end on the 2.3-mile, 17-turn pure terrain highway course marked Rahal’s first podium since August 12, 2023, on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway highway course – 41 races in the past.
Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
“It is a fantastic reward for the blokes and gals,” stated Rahal, 37. “Everyone has labored so exhausting to be again right here. Heard all of the noise and BS that we get to listen to on a regular basis.
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“All weekend the automotive was in actually good condition, very, very aggressive, very snug. The race is definitely probably the most difficult it was. It was extraordinarily steady. Within the race, as you guys might see, I used to be dropping the rear quite a bit it doesn’t matter what I felt like I might do on tire degradation. That is been our Achilles’ heel to this point this 12 months. We have got some work to do.
“No, I imply, I am tremendous glad for everyone on the #15. Nice pit stops, nice technique with Brian (Barnhart). We’ll carry this momentum into the break right here a bit bit and prepare for Lengthy Seashore.
“It is a good reduction this early within the 12 months to have an excellent end result. Now our job is to go analyze and determine why. What modifications did we make to place our automotive a lot additional into the window than most different highway course races and the way can we take that to the GP and Indy, particularly.”
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It wasn’t with out some drama, although, as, after Lundgaard’s #7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet obtained by late, Rahal was then below risk of dropping the ultimate spot on the rostrum to a surging within the #12 Group Penske Chevrolet.
“We had been faster than David all day,” Rahal stated. “He did make an excellent cost on the finish.
“I wasn’t so fearful about him. I believe I might have held Christian off, it’s simply his power was my weak spot. In all places else we might pull him a bit bit. I used to be dying in Flip 2 and three. That was the perfect a part of the observe he had. Sadly, these two simply did not mix very properly.
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“We did the perfect that we might. That is life. He was clearly on a cost and we had accomplished a number of extra laps than him on these tires. I knew it was going to be a battle until the top. That is the best way it goes.”
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