Bobby Rahal - biography.
Bobby Rahal developed an impressive record in his 17 years of championship car racing - three PPG CART World Series championships, 24 career wins, 18 pole positions, 265 career starts and over $16million earnings.
But the American, who grew up in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, established his legend with more than just numbers. The Denison University graduate and two-time Driver of the Year was involved in more phases of the sport than any other driver in CART.
Bobby Rahal developed an impressive record in his 17 years of championship car racing - three PPG CART World Series championships, 24 career wins, 18 pole positions, 265 career starts and over $16million earnings.
But the American, who grew up in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, established his legend with more than just numbers. The Denison University graduate and two-time Driver of the Year was involved in more phases of the sport than any other driver in CART.
Rahal balanced the hectic lifestyle of driving his 240mph Miller Lite race car by administrating over 50 employees on his own race team, assisting his team's sponsors on marketing strategies, counselling young drivers and serving on the CART Board of Directors. And those were only his racing endeavours....
Add in his four auto dealerships, his other board of director meetings, his charitable ventures - including a popular Pro-Am - his family, his workout routine, golf and Rahal's life has been just as fast off the track as it was on it.
Known as 'Mr Consistency' for his twelve top-five championship finishes, Rahal was the first CART driver to win $1million in a season [1986], the first to win $1million in the post-season [1992] and the first to surpass $12million in career earnings.
He has competed professionally in Indycars, Formula One, Formula Two and Formula Three, as well as NASCAR Winston Cup, SCCA Trans-Am, IMSA GTP, Formula Atlantic and the International Race of Champions [IROC].
Biography and career highlights.
Born: 10 January 1953, Medina OhioMarried: Wife Debi, four children [Michaela, Jarrad, Graham and Samantha]Lives: New Albany, Ohio
CART race record:
17 seasons
265 starts
3 championship titles [1986, 1987, 1992]
24 victories [including 1986 Indianapolis 500]
18 pole positions
3107 laps led
2 Driver of the Year awards
Rookie of the Year [1982]
First owner/driver to win CART title [Rahal/Hogan Racing 1992]
Second in all time CART career earnings [$16,344,008]
Founded Team Rahal in 1995
Other milestones
Winner 1981 Daytona 24Hrs
Winner 1987 Sebring 12Hrs
Winner 1975 US Formula Atlantic Championship and SCCA President's Cup
Winner 1974 SCCA B/Sports Racing National Championship
