Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is looking for a perfect fit for their second car and would like to have that driver determined by the end of the month, according to a report that appeared in RACER.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan exploring options for second driver
Team owner Bobby Rahal is looking to rebound after a frustrating and winless season between drivers Graham Rahal and James Jakes.
Jonathan Ferrey
The website mentioned yet again that RLLR is expected to add sponsorship from the National Guard, funding that will aid the team in their intent to find a teammate for the younger Rahal.
“We continue to talk with paying and paid drivers, but our preference is to hire the driver of our choosing to race alongside Graham so we have the best two-car team possible,” team owner Bobby Rahal told RACER. “We want the most competitive driver, whether they have money or not, and that usually means they don’t (laughs).
“We’ve had some inquiries from overseas and here as well. I’m looking for veterans right now, and once we’ve gotten the team to where I want it to be, then we’d look at maybe going for younger talent, but not at the moment.”
Last year’s RLLR tandem of Graham Rahal and James Jakes struggled to the tune of 18th and 19th in the championship standings respectfully. Each driver had only a single podium finish, prompting the elder Rahal to bring in veteran engineer Bill Pappas to lead his son’s program in 2014.
Bobby Rahal also told RACER that he wasn’t satisfied and compared his team to Andretti, Ganassi and Penske when each of the “Big Three” has struggled in recent seasons. He expects to come back stronger next season and that begins with finding a second driver.
“We want to have our second driver identified by the end of the month, and we’d like to test with them by about the middle of February, if we can, and get moving on our season. We’re confident in who we want in the car, and provided we get everything else up to snuff, I think we’ll be in a much better place by the time we get to St. Pete.”
The website stated that Rahal was interested in “proven commodities” like Oriol Servia, Alex Tagliani, Justin Wilson and a few other veterans.
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