Q&A: Bobby Rahal, Team Owner, Rahal Letterman Lanigan (RLL) Racing
Bobby Rahal has been on the IndyCar scene for nearly 40 years. Not only has he won the Indy 500 as well as three Championships, but he was also interim president of CART and has been a team boss since 1992. Currently, he owns Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) together with David Letterman and Mike Lanigan.
Ahead of the Portland round of IndyCar, which Bobby won back in 1987, Racecar interviewed him to hear his thoughts on the series and how it could be improved.
When was IndyCar at its best"
?I think around 2001, and into 2002, that was the height.
How do you think the series is doing at the moment"
?I think it?s doing pretty well. At Mid Ohio I think it was the largest crowd they ever had, it was a tremendous number of people. The racing?s always been super competitive, so that?s never been an issue. But I think it seems to be on a very positive slope now, we?ve got really good people behind the series, Mark Miles [CEO] and Jay Frye [president of competition and operations] in particular, and good support from the manufacturers and sponsors, so I think it?s in pretty good shape.? What do you think of this year?s new universal body kit"
?It?s like anything, it probably has some shortcomings here and there but it?s very good in other areas. Clearly the cars are much faster in a straight line, with less drag than they used to have, maybe a little less downforce as a result, but at places ...