Graham Rahal already has some idea of the characteristics his next teammate at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) can have in 2025.
When the checkered flag falls next weekend at Nashville Superspeedway, it is going to mean the tip of the team’s current lineup of Christian Lundgaard, Pietro Fittipaldi and Rahal. Lundgaard is heading to Arrow McLaren to exchange Alexander Rossi and complete the team’s lineup for next 12 months alongside Pato O’Ward and Nolan Siegel.
Beyond Rahal, there’s still no telling what RLL will appear like in 2025, but you may guess what sort of team members it expects.
“I think I’m looking for someone to help me with that equation,” Rahal, 35, said.
“As a team, now we have to maneuver forward and now we have to enhance. And that's the underside line. I need someone who can are available in and help me. And help not only me, however the team.
“We must move forward. We must try various things. We must recuperate. We found some good things in St. Louis [Gateway]… But it will be great to have someone with experience. I wasn’t ashamed of that.”
Are you watching Rossi?
Among the high-profile free agents Rahal has noticed is the exact same person his soon-to-be former teammate is replacing: Rossi.
“It would be great to have a guy like Alex, but obviously Pietro is doing a lot better,” Rahal continued. “I think what people don’t see in Pietro is that his race pace has always been really strong. He’s a good rider. You know, qualifying pace, things like that will improve. But his race pace is really tough, which means good. Like he’s a tough guy; when he’s behind you, he’s on you like a little bulldog.”
Rahal also shared his thoughts on Juri Vips, the previous Red Bull reserve driver who was dropped from the team after using a racist slur during a live broadcast of a 2022 game. After making two starts for RLL at the tip of last season, Vips was retained because the team’s development driver this 12 months, and in addition made a one-off appearance within the fourth squad last month in Portland.
“And finally, I’ve said all along that Juri deserves a chance; and if it’s not with us, I hope someone takes a look at Juri because Juri is a professional,” Rahal said.
“And I understand what happened previously, but now we have to maneuver on. We've made mistakes in life; now we have to maneuver on, and Juri is a talented, talented guy who deserves a likelihood, and last weekend I believed he was an expert. He got here in; he was fast straight away, he struggled a bit in qualifying, he struggled a bit within the race, but you may expect these items.
“So let's see what happens here, man. I don't know where we are as a team right now. I don't know, you know, how it ends. But there's definitely a lot of great options.”
Pietro Fittipaldi and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
Photo: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Images
Returning to Rossi, Rahal shared his thoughts with us, while acknowledging that he may in the future make decisions for the team much like those made by his father, 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, one in all three co-owners of RLL.
“I'm his cheerleader” [Rossi]”said Rahal. “I've at all times been in very close contact with him since Andretti and where he could go. Look, guys, facts are facts, which suggests perhaps in the future I'll make those decisions, but that day isn’t today. So, you recognize, I can have my opinions, I can say my opinions; it doesn't mean it's going to occur.”
