Graham Rahal to the Atlantics series

[Vasserfan]

Graham to race for one of the Conquest seats in the Atlantic series next year. Conquest is adding 2 cars to the Atlantic series. Good news.

Here is the article:

Graham Rahal to Drive for Conquest in Atlantics
Written by: RACER staff

Indianapolis, Ind. – 12/6/2005 Rahal, 16, took one win and finished fourth in points in his rookie Star Mazda campaign. (Bill Kistler photo)

Graham Rahal, the 16-year-old son of Bobby Rahal, will be announced this Wednesday as one of the drivers for Conquest Racing’s new Atlantic team.

Eric Bachelart’s Champ Car team is set to expand into the revamped junior series next year, fielding a two-car effort of the new Cosworth-powered Swift 016.a chassis.

Rahal clinched one win en route to fourth in the points standings in his rookie Star Mazda campaign this season. He was also crowned national champion in the SCCA Runoffs in the Formula Atlantic category.

Link

[ptistheboss]

Rahal v Unser v Andretti.

[Grinder-Tank]

"Rahal v Unser v Andretti."

Hidden from the general public and invisable to the masses.

[ray]

You should get out more.

[jetdoc]

Please understand Vasserfan that the reason he's going to Atlantics is because he's too young (16) to drive in the IPS. You must be 18 to drive in the IPS. I know that he tested an IPS car, but trust me....the league was none too happy about it.

[Jakester]

You must be 18 to drive in the IPS

Rumored, but never confirmed. Can you provide confirmation?

(edited)...looks like I may have found my own confirmation

This year’s Knoxville Nationals Rookie of the Year, at least 18 years of age, will receive a test in October in a Menards Infiniti Pro Series car under the guidance of league driver coaches, which include Indianapolis 500 champions Rick Mears, Al Unser and Johnny Rutherford.

Only 28 more to go....

[Vasserfan]

Please understand Vasserfan that the reason he's going to Atlantics is because he's too young (16) to drive in the IPS. You must be 18 to drive in the IPS. I know that he tested an IPS car, but trust me....the league was none too happy about it.

I was not comparing this to anything about the IPS. (I am sure if he wanted to be in the IPS, a loophole or change could be found or made). I Almost added it to Wilke's Atlantic's thread, but since it included the part about Conquest adding 2 cars to the Atlantics, I thought it deserved it's own thread as it relates to business.

This thread was not meant as a slam on the IPS or any other series.

[logjammer]

"Rahal v Unser v Andretti."

Hidden from the general public and invisable to the masses.

That was suposed to be reserved for Indy wasn't it? Where is Lyundyke?

[rjohnson999]

And they won't even be the fastest in the Atlantics field.

Rahal v Unser v Andretti.

[Jim Wilke]

I was not comparing this to anything about the IPS. (I am sure if he wanted to be in the IPS, a loophole or change could be found or made). I Almost added it to Wilke's Atlantic's thread, but since it included the part about Conquest adding 2 cars to the Atlantics, I thought it deserved it's own thread as it relates to business.

I suppose this adds 2 to Atlantics but scratch one off the 'cash in hand, firm order' list. Bobby Rahal had ordered a car for Graham 'pending sponsorship' but it now appears that car won't be needed.

[CARacer]

Please understand Vasserfan that the reason he's going to Atlantics is because he's too young (16) to drive in the IPS. You must be 18 to drive in the IPS. I know that he tested an IPS car, but trust me....the league was none too happy about it.

Even if he was 18, (he's 17 now) or if they allowed under 18 drivers, Graham Rahal has stated many times that he does not want to be in the IRL (unless the split is resolved) and be racing in an oval dominant series. The IPS test was just a test, no plans to race in IPS in the future at all.

Atlantics was always the plan in 2006 and in 2007 (he'll be 18) the plan is to go to GP2 in Europe. He wants to be in F1 (first choice), and Champ Car (2nd choice) like all racers with road racing background. He has said this many times in public and private to friends in the paddock.

Here's a cut and paste of what I posted on the other Graham thread about a month ago over in this forum.

Another intersting quote, Marco will be in the IRL, but Graham will not unless the Split is resolved. Bobby has never said Graham will be in the IRL someday like Michael has for Marco, although Mario wants Marco to race GP2 in Europe.

Originally Posted in http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/roadracing/20836/

Q: Do you think Marco, “Just Al" Unser and you perhaps graduating to the big leagues at roughly the same time could help raise fan interest in open-wheel racing back to what it used to be?

“I definitely think it can help. I mean, will we be the next Danica Patrick? I think not - she’s a female in a male world and that generates a lot of attention. But our heritage could help with fan recognition, no doubt.

“Before that, though, I think we need to solve the split in our sport, get this situation sorted out. The way it is now, we might not even be able to help at all, because we may not be racing against each other in the same series…”

And his plans for the future. No mention of the IRL at all, but racing in Europe are after Atlantic.

Originally Posted in http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/roadracing/20836/

Q: What are your plans for the 2006 season?

“I will for sure be racing in Atlantics next year. I can’t say for which team yet, we haven’t signed anything so far, but we’re not going to start our own team.

“We did look at it, but decided it was not worth it, just way too much money to start from scratch. Also, I want to have a strong teammate.

“Other than that, I’m pretty sure I’ll drive in the [Grand American Rolex Series] 24 Hours of Daytona next year, and we also have a couple of offers in the ALMS to do Petit Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring. But in the big picture Atlantics will be our main deal, what we’ll be focusing in next year.”

Q: And beyond that?

“We’ll see where this path leads us to. We’ve had some talks with World Series by Renault and GP2 Series teams, it’s something I definitely would like to experience. But I think that would be further down the road, in 2007...”

[rocketdoc]

Please understand Vasserfan that the reason he's going to Atlantics is because he's too young (16) to drive in the IPS. You must be 18 to drive in the IPS. I know that he tested an IPS car, but trust me....the league was none too happy about it.

Maybe you should understand that it's probable that Bobbie and Graham would rather he be in Atlantics.

[Cygni]

Everything ive read from Graham makes it pretty clear that Atlantics was his first choice, regardless of age.

[Jim Wilke]

When he starts writing his own checks, he can make his choice. Until then, he'll go where dad wants him to go and right now, that's Atlantics because that's all that is open to him. We'll see what happens next year.

[rocketdoc]

When he starts writing his own checks, he can make his choice. Until then, he'll go where dad wants him to go and right now, that's Atlantics because that's all that is open to him. We'll see what happens next year.

That's a nice and folksy reasoning Wilke, but I remember when my son began selecting his race direction, usually his desires held sway and although I didn't have the resources that Rahal has, the theme may be the same.

Where do you get this spin?