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| Bobby and Graham Rahal collaborate on the set-up of Graham's 2025 No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Dallara Honda at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the INDY500. Image Credit: Paul Hurley via NICS (2025) |
Graham Rahal Reflects On Father Bobby Rahal Ahead Of Documentary Premiere At Sonsio Grand Prix Weekend
Graham Rahal sat in the press conference at Indianapolis Motor Speedway ahead
of this weekend’s Sonsio Grand Prix and spoke with clear pride about his
legendary father, Bobby Rahal. The occasion centered on the upcoming global
debut of the documentary “Bobby Rahal: True American Racer,” set to air Friday
night on FS1.
The one-hour version, produced by Chassy Media and directed and edited by Travis Long with support from Scott Borchetta and Nate Adams, premieres at 7:30 p.m. ET. It will re-air multiple times throughout May to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Bobby Rahal’s stirring 1986 Indianapolis 500 victory. This television cut focuses on Bobby’s early years through his emotional win with close friend Jim Trueman, who sadly lost his battle with cancer shortly afterward. A longer, full-length edition covering Bobby’s complete and still-active career arrives later in 2026.
Travis Long described the project, which began in 2022, as deeply compelling.
He conducted a seven-hour interview with Bobby and gathered 25 interviews
totaling more than 30 hours of footage. Long noted that Bobby’s story stood
out because of his hands-on approach to everything from Formula Atlantic and
endurance racing to building his own successful team and businesses.
Graham Rahal admitted he had not yet seen the film but expressed genuine
excitement about viewing it. He voiced deep admiration for his father not only
as a racer but also as a father, businessman, and entrepreneur. Graham
explained that he strives daily to follow in Bobby’s footsteps by developing
ventures outside of racing. This approach allows the sport to remain a true
lifelong passion rather than solely a driving career, precisely as Bobby has
demonstrated for decades.
When asked what defined Bobby’s racing success - including the Indy 500
triumph, three CART championships, and capturing a title in his first season
as an owner - Graham highlighted two standout qualities. First, Bobby proved
himself a methodical thinker and supremely talented racer. Second, and perhaps
most importantly, Bobby possessed a rare gift for surrounding himself with
exceptionally smart and capable people and placing them in the right roles.
Graham pointed to early collaborations such as Adrian Newey at Rahal Hogan,
along with loyal team members like Tim, JP, Jimmy Prescott, Clay Wilson, and
Ricardo Nault, many of whom have been with the family for 40 to 50 years and
are now considered family. He also cited smart business hires such as Ron
Ferris for the car dealerships. Graham observed that this same talent for
building strong, enduring teams explains the sustained success of top
organizations like Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Andretti.
Bobby Rahal’s ability to excel both on and off the track, combined with his
leadership in people and vision, continues to inspire his son and the broader
racing and business communities.
... notes from The EDJE
TAGS: #IndyCar, #BobbyRahal, #TrueAmericanRacer, #SonsioGrandPrix,
#RahalLegacy, #Indy50040th, #TheEDJE
