Time to turn bad luck around for Rahal

As we know, the only father son combination to win the Indianapolis 500 is Al Unser and Al Unser Jr. Second and third generation drivers only come around so often and when they do, the expectations are higher than anyone can imagine. Graham Rahal and Marco Andretti are the two most popular second generation drivers of the last twenty years. Andretti salvaged two career wins in fourteen years of full-time IndyCar action. Rahal has managed six wins over a streaky career of 14 seasons in IndyCar competition. Graham has led the charge in changes for the better in IndyCar, but hasn’t won a race since sweeping Detroit back in 2017. Graham heads into 2022 riding a 72 race winless streak in IndyCar competition. Former teammate Takuma Sato has won four races in as many seasons for the team, including an Indianapolis 500 victory in 2020, a race that saw Rahal finish a career best 3rd.

In 2021, Rahal had a car to win several races but lady luck reared her ugly head on multiple occasions. In the second race at Texas Motor Speedway, Rahal charged to the front, taking the lead from Scott Dixon with just over 100 laps to go. Rahal would lead 30 laps on the day but would eventually fade to a 3rd place finish behind winner Pato O’Ward and runner up Josef Newgarden.

The month of May started off well for Rahal and the #15 team. Despite a run off in turn one at the Indy GP, Rahal charged back to a 5th place finish, giving Rahal his 3rd straight Top 5 and all the momentum in the world heading into the 105th Indianapolis 500.

At the Indianapolis 500, Rahal was leading during a pit stop right after the midway part of the race when exiting the pits, his right rear tire came loose sending the #15 United Rentals Honda into the wall, ending Graham's day with a disappointing 32nd place finish after charging to the front and leading 8 laps on the day.

Rahal would bounce back at Belle Isle the following week with two strong fifth place finishes. He led 4 laps in race one, moving up from his 20th place starting position to score a fifth place finish. Rahal would score four more top 5 finishes and dominate at Portland, leading 36 laps, only to lose the race on pit strategy. Graham Rahal’s quote after the race summed up the entire season. “These guys just all got lucky again and we didn’t, it’s going to change, but it’s F****** frustrating.”

It’s a fresh look for the 2022 season for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. The team added Jack Harvey after Takuma Sato departed, and a third car with promising rookie Christian Lundgaard will add a third dynamic to the team. Graham knocked down the door all season in 2021 for a win to break the streak, I think 2022 will see Graham score a victory, if not several. The team, the car and the driver are just too good to be shut out for another year. Texas, Detroit or any of the three races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway could be the tracks we see Rahal back in victory circle. The sport is better off when Graham is racing towards the front of the field and contending for wins.