View Bobby Rahal
Bobby Rahal
By Gregg Leary
DOB 1-10-53
Medina, OH
Category:Auto Racing
Son of club racer Michael Rahal
Won 1986 Indianapolis 500 for long time car owner Jim Trueman…Trueman who was very ill, passed away just 11 days after the Indy win
History Degree from Denison University in Ohio
1975 Began racing Formula Atlantic
1976 Ran 12 Hours of Sebring with Jim Trueman
1977 Finished 2nd to Gilles Villeneuve in Formula Atlantic, ran Can-Am
1978 Raced Formula 3 in Europe for Walter Wolf
1978 made Formula One debut for Wolf at Watkins Glen
1979 lost his F1 ride when James Hunt demanded a one car team, went to Europe and ran half of the F2 season…returned to the USA and finished 5th in Can-Am championship after running only half of the season
1980 ran 24 Hours of Le Mans, 12 Hours of Sebring
1981 Won the 24 Hours of Daytona, ran at Sebring, ran Can-Am for Paul Newman
1982 ran in CART for Jim Trueman’s Red Roof Inns team
Won first CART race at Cleveland and was Rookie of the Year (2nd in points)
1982 Won pole for 24 Hours of Daytona…Won Pole for 12 Hours of Sebring
1984 drove NASCAR race at Riverside
1987 Won 12 Hours of Sebring
1986, 1987, 1992 Won CART Championships
1989-91 drove for Kraco in CART
1992 with Carl Hogan, bought Patrick Racing…won 3rd CART title
1993 Took over Truesports Team and tried to build their own cars
1994 worked on Honda engine program
1996 Team Rahal established with partner David Letterman
1998 retired as driver
2000 was named interim CEO of CART
2001 took over as CEO of Jaguar Racing…ousted in midseason by Niki Lauda