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2016 IndyCar Preseason Power Rankings

By Brittany Frederick

Jan 29, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; Scott Dixon before practice for the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; Scott Dixon before practice for the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 2, 2015; Lexington, OH, USA; Indy Car Series driver Graham Rahal celebrates after winning the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 2, 2015; Lexington, OH, USA; Indy Car Series driver Graham Rahal celebrates after winning the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Graham Rahal

Graham Rahal’s 2015 season wasn’t just important for him – it was important for the entirety of IndyCar, proving that single-car teams could challenge the big multi-car squads for the championship. Rahal was in the hunt all the way to Sonoma, where mechanical problems and a punt from Sebastien Bourdais ended his season on a bad note, but overall there was a lot for him to be proud of.

Rahal captured his first two race victories since 2008 at Fontana and Mid-Ohio (although his victory at Fontana came with having a fuel nozzle attached to his car after a pit stop that IndyCar Race Control claimed that they didn’t see), and recorded eight other Top 10 finishes last season, including four other podiums. For all the talk about major teams being on a different level from the single and double-car organizations, Rahal Letterman Lanigan proved that size is just a number with how well the No. 15 drove in 2015.

The second-generation driver seemed to find another gear, both on track and in how to pull his team together off track, and so now that those pieces are in place he should emerge as the contender that many have been waiting for him to be. It would be fantastic to see him contend with more experienced drivers like Dixon, Montoya and Power and continue to pave the way for the next crop of IndyCar heroes, and also to continue to upset the perception that smaller teams can’t succeed. RLL is just hitting their stride now and 2016 is the year to seize upon their potential.

Next: 3. Juan Pablo Montoya