Rahal F1 bound but near certain to spend 2 years in Champ Car

[luke]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...ck=1&cset=true

Second-generation driver Graham Rahal may still have eyes on Formula One, but he almost certainly will spend the next two seasons in the Champ Car World Series.

The 17-year-old senior-to-be at New Albany High in Ohio has an opportunity to test next month with Newman-Haas Racing, whose lead driver, Sebastian Bourdais, is in position to win his third consecutive championship. If the test goes as expected, Rahal, who has been driving this season in the Mazda Atlantic development series, could find himself with one of the premier teams in American open-wheel racing.

PKV Racing, another Champ Car team, also is interested in young Rahal, the son of former Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, now a team owner in the Indy Racing League, Champ Car's rival series.

"If we didn't do anything with him, I'm pretty sure they would," Chicago businessman Carl Haas said of Graham Rahal. "I think the chances of him being in Champ Car next year are pretty high … "

[georges1]

Originally Posted by luke

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...ck=1&cset=true

My opinion is if you put him in other team in atlantic he would not be where he is now, lets see

[mp356a]

I haven't seen any Atlantics races this year. Is he really that good. I recall some past runners in Atlantic who were highly touted but the field was really weak. What's that series' talent like at the moment?

[luke]

I haven't seen Atlantics at all as well. The last few years the talent had gone a bit thin, no dis respect but it wasn't that competitive.
But looking at 2006 and the number of different race winners since the new car and atrraction etc, the likes of new talent and such as established drivers coming back like Alex Barron and the likes of British F3 driver Darani.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by georges1

My opinion is if you put him in other team in atlantic he would not be where he is now, lets see

I dont think by any stretch that Conquest Racing is the best team in Atlantics at the moment.

[racinthestreets]

Graham Rahal is a racer! I have seen him three times now in Atlantics and he is very smooth while being agressive. He is a smart driver and can feel the racing line. Do not discount him as a driver because of his name and age - he is a race car driver and he will prove this over the next few years! Keep an eye on him - and you will see F1 eyes as your company.