Rahal Letterman Racing (RLR) is an auto racing team that currently has a three car livery in the Indy Racing League. It is co-owned by 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal and television talk show host and comedian David Letterman. Auto racing (also known as automobile racing, autosport or motorsport) is a sport involving racing automobiles. ... Indy Racing League Logo The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is the sanctioning body of a predominantly oval based open-wheel racing series in the United States and, more recently, Japan. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Indianapolis 500, 1994 The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, frequently shortened to Indianapolis 500 or Indy 500, is an American automobile race held annually over the Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. ... Bobby Rahal (born January 10, 1953 in Medina, Ohio) is an auto racing team owner and former driver. ... A talk show (U.S.) or chat show (Brit. ... A comedian, or comic, is an entertainer who amuses an audience by making them laugh. ... David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is an American late night talk show host, comedian, and television producer, and Indy Racing League car owner (Rahal Letterman Racing). ...

When the team was formed in 1992, it was known as Rahal-Hogan Racing. It changed its name to Team Rahal when then-co-owner Carl Hogan left, and it changed its name again to Rahal Letterman Racing in May 2004. 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... It has been designated the: International Year of Rice (by the United Nations) International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO) 2004 World Health Day topic was Road Safety (by World Health Organization) Year of the Monkey (by the Chinese calendar) See the world in...

For the 2005 season, RLR's three drivers were Buddy Rice, who won the 2004 Indianapolis 500 while driving for the team, Vitor Meira, who finished second in the 2005 Indianapolis 500, Danica Patrick, who finished fourth in the 2005 Indianapolis 500, and had the highest finish of any female driver (3 previous) in the history of the Indianapolis 500. Buddy Rice (born January 31, 1976 in Phoenix, Arizona) is an auto racing driver best known for winning the 2004 Indianapolis 500 as part of Rahal Letterman Racing. ... It has been designated the: International Year of Rice (by the United Nations) International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO) 2004 World Health Day topic was Road Safety (by World Health Organization) Year of the Monkey (by the Chinese calendar) See the world in... Vitor Meira (born March 27, 1977 in Brasilia, Brazil) is an auto racing driver, currently driving for Rahal Letterman Racing in the Indy Racing League (IRL). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Also in the 2005 Indianapolis 500, former team member Kenny Bräck, who was replaced by Rice when he suffered a serious injury in 2003, replaced Rice when he was injured in pre-race practice. Rice was able to recover in time to race in the next Indy Racing League race. Kenny Bräck (b. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Rahal-Letterman team looked for high hopes in 2006. While Meira had left the team after the 2005 season (he joined Panther Racing), he replaced by Paul Dana, taking along the sponsorship from Ethanol. Paul Dana Paul Dana (April 15, 1975 – March 26, 2006) was an American race car driver in the Indy Racing League. ...

The team placed three cars in the top nine for the Toyota Indy 300 during March 25, 2006 qualifying (Patrick third, Rice sixth, Dana ninth), and expected good things to come the next day for the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Unfortunately, tragedy took place during final practice Sunday morning. Vision Racing's Ed Carpenter crashed in turn two and the car slid down the 20-degree banking. Dana, who seemed to not receive the signal from the spotter, ran into the gearbox section of Carpenter's car, sending Dana's car flying on the backstretch. Dana died in the hospital later that afternoon, and the entire team, including Patrick and Rice, withdrew immediately.

Patrick and Rice raced together at St. Petersburg, Florida with the third car vacant out of respect, but effective the Bridgestone Indy Japan 300 at Motegi, Japan, Jeff Simmons will be added as the team's third driver to join Patrick and Rice. Jeff Simmons (born May 8, 1976) is an American race car driver in the Indy Racing League and Infiniti Pro Series. ...

CART Drivers

• Raul Boesel
• Kenny Bräck
• Bryan Herta
• Max Papis
• Bobby Rahal
• Jimmy Vasser

Raul de Mesquita Boesel (born 4 December 1957 in Curitiba, Brazil) was a Formula One driver who raced for the March and Ligier teams. ... Kenny Bräck (b. ... Bryan Herta (born on May 23, 1970 in Warren, Michigan) is an American race car driver in the Indy Racing Leagues IndyCar Series. ... Massimiliano Papis, Max Papis, was a Formula One driver from Italy. ... Bobby Rahal (born January 10, 1953 in Medina, Ohio) is an auto racing team owner and former driver. ... Jimmy Vasser (born November 20, 1965 in Canoga Park, California ) is a an American racing driver. ...

IRL Drivers

Current

• Danica Patrick
• Buddy Rice
• Jeff Simmons -- as of the third race in 2006.

This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Buddy Rice (born January 31, 1976 in Phoenix, Arizona) is an auto racing driver best known for winning the 2004 Indianapolis 500 as part of Rahal Letterman Racing. ... Jeff Simmons (born May 8, 1976) is an American race car driver in the Indy Racing League and Infiniti Pro Series. ...

Former

• Vitor Meira (moved to Panther Racing for the 2006 season)
• Roger Yasukawa (left the team after 2004 season)
• Kenny Bräck (left the team after 2005 season)

NOTE: Paul Dana was killed in final practice for the March 26, 2006 Toyota Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and never officially recorded a start in the IndyCar Series with the team. Dana was never credited with an IRL start at the team by the IRL record book. After sitting out the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Jeff Simmons was named to drive the Ethanol #17 entry for the balance of the 2006 season. Vitor Meira (born March 27, 1977 in Brasilia, Brazil) is an auto racing driver, currently driving for Rahal Letterman Racing in the Indy Racing League (IRL). ... Panther Racing is one of the oldest continually operating Indy Racing League teams. ... Roger Yasukawa (ロジャー安川) is an Japanese American auto racing driver born October 10, 1977 in Los Angeles. ... Kenny Bräck (b. ... Paul Dana Paul Dana (April 15, 1975 – March 26, 2006) was an American race car driver in the Indy Racing League. ... Homestead-Miami Speedway is a speedway in Homestead, Florida, USA, southwest of Miami. ... Jeff Simmons (born May 8, 1976) is an American race car driver in the Indy Racing League and Infiniti Pro Series. ...

External link

• Rahal Letterman Racing official site