Graham Rahal is racing in the 2023 Indianapolis 500. Here's what you need to know
A New Albany native was added to field ahead of Sunday's Indianapolis 500.
Graham Rahal will replace British driver Stefan Wilson in the No. 24 Chevy for the Indianapolis 500 after Wilson fractured his 12th thoracic vertebrae in a Monday afternoon practice crash.
Sunday's race will be Rahal's 16th Indianapolis 500.
First, my thoughts are with @stef_wilson. This isn’t how we wanted to get into the race and I’m honored that @DreyerReinbold and @CusickMSports have given me this opportunity. I can’t thank @hondaracing_hpd and @teamchevy enough for working together to allow this to happen.… pic.twitter.com/2EC8m4w5Zw
— Graham Rahal (@GrahamRahal) May 23, 2023
Here's what you need to know about Rahal ahead of Sunday's Indianapolis 500.
Graham Rahal has raced in 15 Indianapolis 500 races
Sunday will not be the first Indianapolis 500 race Rahal has competed in.
Rahal has raced in 15 Indianapolis 500 races. His best finish was in fourth place in 2009, last finishing 21st in 2022.
Rahal initially did not qualify for the 2023 Indianapolis 500 and initially said he would not be "buying a seat" for the race before entering as an injury replacement.
"At Indy, you've go to earn it, and we didn't earn it. I don't believe in that," Rahal said on Peacock. "I'm not meant to be in this race. I'm not a super religious person, but I'm a firm believer that everything in life happens for a reason, and the 2023 Indy 500 was not in my cards."
Graham Rahal is a six-time IndyCar Series race winner
Making his IndyCar race debut at age 18 in 2007, Rahal was the second-youngest driver ever to compete in a race.
He earned his first IndyCar win in 2008 and last won an IndyCar race in 2017.
Since 2020, Rahal has participated in 47 IndyCar Series races driving for a team co-owned by his father Bobby Rahal, the 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner, former late-night talk show host David Letterman and businessman Mike Lanigan.
Graham Rahal will drive a Chevrolet in the 2023 Indianapolis 500
While Rahal has spent his entire career as a Honda IndyCar driver, arrangements were made by Dreyer and Reinbold Racing, and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, along with Honda and Chevrolet, to come to an agreement for Rahal to replace Wilson in the No. 24 Chevy.
"I spent my entire career in a Honda. I've never driven anything other than that," Rahal told ESPN. "I wasn't sure we would get the releases in place to make this happen. They really came together, two manufacturers, to allow this to take place, to allow us to race Sunday, and hopefully allow us to move his car to the front and have a really strong run."
Rahal will start Sunday from the back of the field according to driver subsitution rules after qualifying had taken place.
Graham Rahal is big Ohio State fan
Rahal has not been shy about his loyalty to Ohio State.
An active supporter of Ohio State athletics, Rahal has raced in a Buckeye football replica helmet, winning the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2015.
“That one’s going to be nice race-worn (souvenir), sitting on my shelf the rest of its life.” Rahal said of the helmet, done by designer Austin Polen. “That’s a special one for me.
“You know, my guys all have leaves on their helmets, Buckeye leaves,” Rahal said. “They had five for the five podiums (top-three finishes) this year going in, but they’re going to get a sixth. I think that’s going to stick. I think that’s something we can keep doing, give them some pride, keep everybody working hard.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What to know about Graham Rahal ahead of the Indianapolis 500
