Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver Graham Rahal finished 4th in Sunday’s Verizon IndyCar Series Honda 200 at Mid-Ohio, but the Columbus, Ohio native won the weekend with his Ohio State Buckeyes football racing helmet complete with grass stains & helmet stickers.
I made the 100 mile or so drive down to Mid-Ohio, which is literally in the middle of corn fields and woods surrounded by farms, to chat with Rahal about his helmet and what he thinks about the Buckeyes in 2016. This track is 60 miles from Ohio Stadium, near where Rahal grew up as the son of Bobby.
Now 27, Graham Rahal is quickly becoming the American face of IndyCar and he’s helping the sport crossover into the mainstream with his Buckeyes fandom. Ezekiel Elliott was at the June Texas race. Last week, Urban Meyer went for a ride in a two-seater driven by fellow American Conor Daly (@ConorDaly22) because Rahal (@GrahamRahal) had a big reveal of his Steak & Shake fire suit and had to miss the huge opportunity. Former Buckeyes were expected to be at the Mid-Ohio race to watch Rahal in the team helmet.
Rahal isn’t having the season on the track that he experienced in 2015 with two victories and a 4th place finish in the points, but he’s clearly becoming the young American face of open wheel racing in the U.S. — with a little help from OSU fans.
Graham Rahal Talks Buckeyes Football & His OSU Racing Helmet With BC
