Catchfence

Graham Rahal - Photo Credit: Catchfence Open Wheel Editor: Paul Powell

Race: IZOD INDYCAR World Championships on Sunday, October 16 (3:00 PM ET, ABC)
Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile D-shaped oval)
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

NOTES/NEWS

Follow CGR on Twitter: Follow @CGRTeams for official updates from Chip Ganassi Racing’s IZOD IndyCar Series drivers Graham Rahal and Charlie Kimball.

There’s an App for that: Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) and SapientNitro SM recently launched one of the first mobile applications for the high-velocity world of racing. This new application brings fans updated driver and event information, and exclusive content in one centralized and expansive mobile experience, bringing to life the rich heritage and legendary success of Chip Ganassi Racing Teams. The unique mobile application conveys the high-octane rush of the racing experience for a team that competes at the highest levels in three series – the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, IZOD IndyCar Series and Rolex GRAND-AM Series.

Team Manager Mitch Davis on Las Vegas: “We’re down to the last race of the IZOD IndyCar Series season and the money is on the line. Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing and Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing are looking forward to the atmosphere of Las Vegas and racing with 34 cars. The No. 38 Service Central car and the No. 83 Levemir and NovoLog FlexPen car were fast in Kentucky, so we’re confident we’ll have a great race this weekend.”

Graham Rahal and the No. 38 Service Central Team

Follow Graham on Twitter: Follow @GrahamRahal for updates as the driver of the No. 38 Service Central Honda completes his first season with Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

Race for Research: The Graham Rahal Foundation will host the inaugural Race for Research benefiting the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at Pole Position Raceway in Las Vegas, NV. Participants will compete side-by-side in an endurance kart race featuring drivers from the IZOD IndyCar Series. For additional information please visit www.grahamrahalfoundation.org.

Place Your Bet: The Service Central team heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway looking to capture their first win of the season after Rahal turns his first-ever laps on the 1.5-mile D-shaped oval. In 17 starts this season, Rahal has driven the No. 38 Service Central car to three top-five and six-10 finishes.

Finishing Strong: Rahal has finished in the top-10 in three of the four season finales of his Indy car career and his only finish outside of the top-10 was 11th in 2009 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Rahal on Las Vegas: “I’m looking forward to finishing off the IZOD IndyCar Series season in Las Vegas. The No. 38 Service Central car was fast in Kentucky, so we’re confident we’ll be able to run up front this weekend and finish the season strong. We’ll be working with our teammate Dario (Franchitti) to help him win this championship. The Service Central team has learned a lot this year and we’ve proven we can run up front. I’m excited to move on to 2012 with Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing and Honda; we’ll see what we can do in the new Indy car.”

Front Row Starter: Rahal captured his season-best oval qualifying effort when he started second at Kentucky Speedway. He started on the front for the first time this season at the Inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix.

Bachelor of the Year: Rahal was recently named Bachelor of the Year for Indiana in the upcoming November issue of Cosmopolitan magazine. Readers are encouraged to vote for their favorite bachelor and the winner will receive $10,000. If Rahal wins, he plans to give the money back to his charity the Graham Rahal Foundation. Vote for Graham here: http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/bachelors-2011/bachelors-2011-indiana

In the Points: Rahal is ninth in the IZOD IndyCar Series points standings, 253 markers behind overall leader Will Power.

Kentucky Recap: Rahal put together a two-lap combined time good enough to earn him a spot on the front row for the Kentucky Indy 300 as he matched his season-best qualifying effort of second. The green flag flew for the 200-lap event and Rahal held on to his second-place starting position, not letting the leader out of his sight while holding off the third-place car during the entire first stint. The No. 38 Service Central car was running second when Rahal came to pit lane for the final time on lap 169 to top off on fuel. The Service Central team would ultimately cross the finish line 12th-place.

TEAM ROSTERS

Mitch Davis – Team Manager

No. 38 (IndyCar)
Crew Chief (Air Jack): Matt Swan Race Strategist: Tim Keene
Engineer: Martin Pare Rear End (L/F): Dan Rushing
Assistant Engineer: Rob Ridgley Rear End (L/R): Pat Nelson
Tires/Transport Driver: Mike Briggs R/R: Eric Prentice
Spotter: Lee Orebaugh Front End (R/F): George Sladky
Gear Box: Mike LaFontain Front End/Fueler: Trey Harkins

About Chip Ganassi Racing Teams

Chip Ganassi created his own one-car IndyCar team in 1990 and established a partnership with sponsor, Target. Today, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams includes two entries in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, four in the IZOD IndyCar Series and one Daytona Prototype in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Cars Series. Overall his teams have 13 championships and 145 victories, including three Indianapolis 500s, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400 and four Rolex 24 At Daytonas. Ganassi boasts state-of-the-art race shop facilities in Indianapolis and Brownsburg, Ind. and Concord, N.C., with a corporate office in Pittsburgh, Penn.

For more information log onto servicecentralchipganassiracing.com

- Chip Ganassi Racing, Press Release

servicecentralchipganassiracing.com