IndyCar: Will Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing field three cars in 2019?

By Asher Fair | Jul 12, 2018

FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 08: Graham Rahal, driver of the #15 Fleet Cost and Care Honda (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

Will Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing expand from a two-car full-time team to a three-car full-time team in the 2019 IndyCar season?

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing entered CART for the first time in the 1992 season as Rahal-Hogan Racing. They fielded at least one full-time car from the 1992 season to the 1995 season before they simply became known as Team Rahal in the 1996 season. From the 1996 season to the 2003 season, they continued to field at least one full-time car in CART.

Team Rahal entered IndyCar in the 2002 season, but they did not field a full-time car until the 2003 season. In the 2004 season, they were renamed Rahal Letterman Racing, and from the 2003 season to the 2008 season, they fielded at least one full-time car.

However, Rahal Letterman Racing did not field a full-time car again until the 2012 season, although they still field one car in each of the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Indianapolis 500 races.

Since returning to IndyCar as a full-time team in the 2012 season after three consecutive seasons of not fielding a full-time car, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, which they were renamed in the 2011 season, had only fielded more than one full-time car once up until this season, as they were a one-car full-time team in the 2012 season and from the 2014 season to the 2017 season.

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In the 2012 season, Takuma Sato drove the #30 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, and from the 2013 season to the 2017 season, Graham Rahal, the son of team co-owner Bobby Rahal, drove the #15 Honda. In the 2013 season, the team’s second full-time driver was James Jakes. He drove the #16 Honda.

Rahal still drives the #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, but the team signed Sato once again this season to drive the #30 Honda. As a result, the team are a two-car full-time team for the first time since the 2013 season.

Now there are rumors that Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing could expand even further to become a three-car full-time team in the 2019 season. They have not been a three-car full-time team since they were still named Rahal Letterman Racing in the 2006 season. In the 2006 season, the team’s three full-time drivers were Buddy Rice, Danica Patrick and Jeff Simmons. They drove the #15 Honda, the #16 Honda and the #17 Honda, respectively.

Here is what Bobby Rahal had to say about the possibility of fielding three full-time cars in the 2019 IndyCar season, according to RACER.com.

"“There’s a couple of good opportunities out there, so I’m much more sure of us having a three-car program next year than I’ve ever been. It’s not there yet, but it’s a strong chance, and that’s exciting for us. Other than Graham, we don’t have commitments with anybody. And we’d like to keep Takuma with us. After the last couple of races, I think he’s happier about the year so far.”"

Of the 10 teams that currently compete full-time in IndyCar, just two field more than two full-time cars. Those two teams are Andretti Autosport and Team Penske, and they field four and three cars, respectively.

Of the other eight teams that do not field more than two full-time cars, seven field two full-time cars. Aside of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, six teams do so. Those six teams are A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Carlin Motorsport, Chip Ganassi Racing, Dale Coyne Racing, Ed Carpenter Racing and Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.

Dale Coyne Racing and Ed Carpenter Racing field two full-time cars, but they each have only one full-time driver. Harding Racing are the only team that field one full-time car.

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Will Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing become a three-car full-time team in the 2019 IndyCar season for the first time since the 2006 season? If so, who will their third full-time driver be? Will Takuma Sato return as the team’s second driver alongside Graham Rahal, who signed a five-year contract to remain with the team through at least the 2023 season last month?