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IndyCar: Will Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing field three cars in 2020?

By Asher Fair

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 07: Graham Rahal of the United States, driver of the #15 Fleet Cost & Care Honda, practices for the NTT IndyCar Series - DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 07, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 07: Graham Rahal of the United States, driver of the #15 Fleet Cost & Care Honda, practices for the NTT IndyCar Series - DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 07, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /
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Will Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing field three cars in the 2020 IndyCar season for the first time since the 2006 season?

Toward the middle of the 2018 IndyCar season, there were rumors that Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing were looking at the possibility of expanding and fielding three cars on a full-time basis for the 2019 season.

The 2018 season was the team’s first season fielding more than one car on a full-time basis since the 2013 season when they fielded the #15 Honda for Graham Rahal, the son of team co-owner Bobby Rahal, and the #16 Honda for James Jakes.

Last season, they fielded the #15 Honda for Rahal and the #30 Honda for Takuma Sato. From the 2014 season through the 2017 season, they fielded only the #15 Honda for Rahal.

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These rumors ultimately did not end up coming to fruition.

Rahal signed a five-year contract extension last year to continue driving for his father’s team through at least the 2023 season while the team re-signed Sato for the 2019 season after the 2018 season ended.

However, the only appearance of a third car this season for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing took place in the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when Jordan King drove the #42 Honda.

Now, once again, there are rumors that the team will expand and field a third car on a full-time basis next year.

Will it happen?

According to Bobby Rahal, it’s close.

Here is what he had to say about the matter, according to RACER.

"“What I can tell you is that I think we’re probably the closest we’ve ever been to having the funding for a third car. That’s different than where we’ve been in the past. Not everything is done, but certainly, all the indications are that it’s pretty strong. That’s how I feel.”"

The team have fielded three cars on a full-time basis before back when they were still Rahal Letterman Racing. Buddy Rice, Danica Patrick and Vitor Meira drove for the team on a full-time basis in the 2005 season while Rice, Patrick and Jeff Simmons did so in the 2006 season.

There are currently only two IndyCar teams that field more than two cars on a full-time basis. The Honda-powered Andretti Autosport team field four cars and the Chevrolet-powered Team Penske team field three cars.

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Will Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing end up fielding three cars on a full-time basis in the 2020 IndyCar season, or will they come up short once again? If they do end up fielding three cars for the entire season, who will they sign?