Bobby Rahal

Robert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal (born January 10, 1953) is an American racing legend who has achieved success as both a driver and team owner, embodying excellence across multiple decades of motorsports. Born in Medina, Ohio, Rahal's journey to the pinnacle of American open-wheel racing began in his teenage years and culminated in becoming one of the sport's most respected figures.

Rahal's racing education followed the traditional path for aspiring professional drivers. He started in the Sports Car Club of America's feeder series before progressing to Formula Atlantic and then European Formula Two, gaining valuable experience and honing his skills against international competition. By age 22, he had already established himself as America's top amateur racer, remarkably winning two national championships while simultaneously earning his college degree in the same year.

In 1982, Rahal entered the CART IndyCar series with the Truesports team, immediately making his mark with two race victories and finishing as runner-up in the championship behind the legendary Rick Mears. This strong debut season announced his arrival as a legitimate championship contender.

The defining moment of Rahal's driving career came in 1986 at the Indianapolis 500. In a dramatic finish, he passed Kevin Cogan on a restart with just two laps remaining to claim victory. The triumph was bittersweet, occurring only days before his team owner, Jim Trueman, succumbed to cancer. Rahal became the first driver in Indy history to complete the 500 miles in under three hours, averaging a then-record speed of 170.722 mph (274.750 km/h), making it the fastest 500-mile IndyCar race to that point.

Later in 1986, Rahal captured his first CART championship, establishing himself among the elite of American racing. He successfully defended the title the following year in 1987, demonstrating remarkable consistency at the highest level. His championship success continued in 1992 when he became both team owner and champion, producing four wins for himself and capturing his third CART title. This made him the last owner-driver to win the CART championship and the last driver to win a race with his own team until Adrian Fernandez accomplished the feat in 2003.

During his illustrious driving career, which concluded in 1998, Rahal started 264 races for five different teams, earning 18 pole positions and scoring 24 race victories. His consistency and professionalism made him one of open-wheel racing's most accomplished competitors.

Rahal's transition from driver to team owner has been equally impressive. As co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing alongside former late-night talk show host David Letterman and businessman Michael Lanigan, he has overseen the team's growth from a one-car program to a multi-car, multi-discipline organization. Under his leadership, the team won the Indianapolis 500 in 2004 with Buddy Rice and again in 2020 with Takuma Sato, bringing Rahal's total Indianapolis 500 victories to three (one as a driver, two as an owner).

Beyond racing, Rahal has built a successful business empire. The Bobby Rahal Automotive Group operates a network of car dealerships throughout western and central Pennsylvania, selling premium brands including Acura, BMW, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and Volvo. His business acumen has proven as sharp as his racing instincts.

Rahal's contributions to motorsports have earned him induction into numerous halls of fame, including the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame. His legacy encompasses not just his achievements on track, but his role in developing future racing talent and maintaining one of IndyCar's most successful teams.