Graham Rahal, son of legendary open-wheel driver Bobby Rahal, will drive for Kenn Hardley Racing in the Indy Pro Series™ Liberty Challenge to be run July 1 on the 2.605-mile road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Rahal, who will be 17 years, 178 days old on July 1, will become the youngest competitor in Indy Pro Series history. He is not subject to the minimum age requirement of 18 because the IndyCar Series is not running at the event. The 25-lap event instead is part of the undercard for the United States Grand Prix with Formula One.
Rahal already made history earlier this year when he became the youngest winner in Champ Car Atlantic series history, winning at Monterrey, Mexico.
“We're excited to have Graham on board for this great race,” team owner Kenn Hardley said. “With Bobby Wilson as Graham's teammate, we have a very strong team and are looking for great results from both drivers."
Kenn Hardley Racing drivers have won two of five Indy Pro Series races in 2006, with Wilson winning from the pole on the 3.37-mile, 11-turn Watkins Glen International circuit on June 4.
“I think it will be challenging, but I'm with a great team and can't wait to test later on this month with the guys at Kenn Hardley Racing,” said Rahal, who will participate in an Open Test on the circuit on June 20. “My goal is to reach the highest level as a professional race car driver. The Indy Pro series will give me a very valuable experience which will help me move up the ladder in open-wheel racing.”
The Indy Pro Series is the premier ladder series for drivers, teams and sponsors striving to compete in the IndyCar® Series and the Indianapolis 500. The 12-race schedule in 2006 features six races on ovals and six races on road courses, including competing on both circuits at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Teams compete for $3 million in prize money in cars that generate 420 horsepower and speeds in excess of 190 mph. The races are telecast to more than 88 million homes in the United States on ESPN2.
Rahal competed in the final three rounds of the inaugural season of the A1 Grand Prix last year with A1 Team Lebanon and is set to compete in the 2006-07 A1 Grand Prix series starting this October.
He began his racing career at age 12, racing 80cc shifter karts. In 2003, he captured his first national championship race with the ICC main event win at Road America. In 2004, Rahal made his debut in the inaugural Formula BMW Series at the age of 15. He finished third in the Formula BMW USA Rookie of the Year battle, and seventh overall in the championship.
Last year, Rahal finished fourth in Star Mazda, winning at Portland International Raceway in Portland, Ore. to become the youngest race winner in the history of the series at the age of 16. He also scored six podiums in 12 events.
***
The 2006 IRL IndyCar Series continues with the Bombardier 500k at 9 p.m. (EDT) on June 10 at Texas Motor Speedway. The race will be televised live by ESPN and the IMS Radio Network. A Spanish-language telecast of the race will be carried by ESPN Deportes. The IMS Radio Network broadcast also is carried on XM Satellite Radio channel 145 “IndyCar Racing” and indycar.com. The fifth season of Indy Pro Series competition continues with the Liberty Challenge on July 1 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. ESPN2’s coverage of the Corning will be televised at 2 p.m. (EDT) on June 8.
