Graham Rahal has delivered a blunt response to IndyCar critics who question his position in the top-tier American open-wheel series. Racing for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, a team co-owned by his father Bobby Rahal, Graham is intent on proving his legitimacy despite recent performance challenges. This rebuttal came ahead of the 2025 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, his home race.
The 36-year-old driver has faced difficulties on track in recent seasons, with his last podium finish at the 2023 Indy GP held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and his most recent victory dating back to 2017 after sweeping the Detroit GP double-header. Despite these struggles, Rahal remains confident in his capability to compete at the front.
During a press conference before the Mid-Ohio event, a reporter questioned whether he still considered himself a racer capable of challenging the frontrunners. Rahal’s sharp reply addressed the doubts head-on:
“Yeah, I think I am — well, look at the qualifying results. They speak for themselves,” Graham Rahal replied (via ASAP Sports). “I’m sick and tired of hearing, ‘He can’t drive. He’s only there because of his dad’… all this bullshit. It gets old because the reality is (that) the performance and qualifying, in particular, speaks for itself.”
While his qualifying results earlier in the season were average, Rahal’s recent form shows improvement. He holds an average starting position of 15.67 through nine races in 2025, with a standout P2 at the Sonsio Grand Prix. Nonetheless, the veteran racer acknowledges ongoing struggles on oval tracks, a significant area of concern for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing this year.
Challenges with Ovals Highlight Team’s 2025 Struggles
Graham Rahal has pinpointed oval and short oval tracks as the principal difficulty facing Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing during the 2025 season. At the 1.25-mile WWT Raceway, he qualified 22nd and finished the race in the same position, trailing the leaders by eight laps. Testing at the 0.875-mile Iowa Speedway has yet to provide solutions either, with the team continuing to seek improved performance on these circuits.
“Well, that’s (ovals) our biggest struggle right now. I think, like for us, Dad just said it, we have — I don’t care what anybody wants to say. We see all the negatives and so on. But the team has made huge strides this year. The downside obviously has been the performance on the ovals for sure,” he said via ASAP Sports.
Despite the oval difficulties, Rahal remains optimistic about the upcoming Mid-Ohio race weekend from July 4 to 6. The 2.258-mile road course has historically been favorable to him, as he claimed a memorable victory there in 2015, his only win at that venue. His father Bobby Rahal, a three-time IndyCar champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner, is set to serve as grand marshal for the event, adding a special family connection.
Bobby Rahal boasts an impressive record at Mid-Ohio with eight podium finishes in 16 career starts, including two wins. This legacy forms a significant part of the atmosphere surrounding the race and brings added motivation for Graham to deliver a strong performance in front of a familiar crowd.
Graham Rahal’s forthright defense against his critics underlines his determination to overcome recent challenges and silence doubts about his place in IndyCar. His focus now shifts to proving his worth not only through qualifying but also sustained race performances as the season progresses, especially on circuits where his team has been more competitive.