Rahal Letterman out of IRL for 2009

Just saw this on Yahoo Sports.

http://sports.yahoo.com/irl/news;_ylt=AuIKBgyPylCgfqazuolP8sQ5nYcB?slug=ap-irl-rahalteamsidelined&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

Guess it is not surprising. Too bad they could not get the Brazilian sugar cane-based ethanol group to sponsor them.

Who would have thought that the second year of unification would see a smaller grid than when there were two separate series?

 

With the new ALMS BMW M3, and running Formula BMW. They probably don't have the time/money to run an IndyCar team.

 

Exactly. Interesting is that this was the rumored plan all along (e.g., ALMS only), so this "announcement" isn't really anything new.

 

kinda sad, since Rahal has been in CART/IRL for what, 30 years? but that team really hasn't performed for a long time, and this is a performance business...

 

I never got the impression Bobby was all that into IRL. I am no insider, so I throw around "rumor" a alot, but I heard that David Letterman was the driver behind Bobby leaving Champ Car (in a totally ***** move, btw) as he's from Indiana and was a fan of the "500".

Oh well, it's all over but the shouting.

 

If the team's focus is the ALMS and BMW (they also prepare BMW's fleet of vintage racers in NA) will Letterman lose interest and walk away?

 

It doesn't say they are definitely out.

“We are continuing to search for sponsorship to run the 2009 season and to run in the Indianapolis 500,” he said in a statement, “and we feel that there is still time for us to put something together that will allow that to happen.”

Let's wait and see if they can pull off sponsorship first.

 

I know some of the Rahal's...here in Pittsburgh. They have a few dealerships but I hang out with Bobby's nephew, Paul, who's really close to Gram (one of the drivers). I don't think Gram races for Rahal anymore though but I may be wrong...I'll talk to Paul and see what he says. Let you know if I find out anything.

 

Graham doesn't drive for Bobby. I would be curious to see if Bobby really ever wanted to go to the IRL. I would buy that he wanted to be in the 500, but the IRL didn't seem his bag.

January economic numbers show the economy worsening at an increased clip - I would not expect to see Rahal Letterman competing in the IRL in 2009.

 

From today's Columbus paper, "We haven't waved the white flag. We are looking very hard and actively pursuing deals. The intent is to be at the season opener but if it were tomorrow we wouldn't be at that race."

The Ethanol deal that ended with the 2008 season was worth $6 million per year.

 

Graham still at Newman-Haas-Lanigan with McDonalds as one of their sponsors. McDonalds sales up 80% in 2008. Go figure, the economy goes bad and so do peoples taste in food.

 

So true! On another thread, I commented on my choice of beer lately - it too has gone south given the economy

 

Life's too short to drink bad beer.

 

Any idea what's happening at N-H-L now that Paul has passed away? Really gonna miss that guy in the racing world.

 

Tough to say. He was passionate about CART / Champ Car - very against the split and Tony George's role in it.

He was also a true gentleman, well respected by everyone. I wonder if Carl Haas will up and leave - go to Grand Am or something like that.

We'll certainly see, but I have no idea at this point.

 

NHL allegedly passed on Justin Wilson's contract option and are waiting to see what happens with Bourdais and STR. It is tough to imagine them fielding two cars again, though. For the last four seasons or so it has always been the McDonald's car and then one with no true sponsor, just Newman's charity.

 

It'd be nice to see the return of the Hole In The Wall Camp return on the car. Good to have a kid's charity out there being advertised.