Graham Rahal, a 34-year-old Ohio native, showcased his skills in the qualifying session as he secured his second pole position of the season. Not only did he claim the top spot, but he did so while being the only driver in the Fast Six to utilize the harder primary, black sidewall tire compound. The rest of the group opted for the softer alternate, red-labeled rubber, which trailed behind Rahal. This impressive performance is reminiscent of Rahal’s previous success on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, where he qualified on pole, led the most laps, and finished second. Rahal expressed confidence in his race car, believing that it will perform even better during the actual race.
Rahal praised Firestone for their tire compound selection for the race but also acknowledged the challenges associated with it. He described the tires as “very, very tricky,” noting that both the red and black compounds suffer from significant degradation. The peak performance of the tires deteriorates quickly, with the reds being noticeably worn after just two laps. In contrast to most drivers, Rahal’s team chose to conserve their tire sets during practice sessions. While many teams used two sets of tires, Rahal’s team opted to use only one set per session. This strategic decision was made in an attempt to have fresh tires for the race. Rahal expressed gratitude that everything worked out according to their plan, giving him an advantageous position for the upcoming race.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has experienced success at the road course in question in the past. In 2018, Takuma Sato managed to win the race after starting from the 20th position. Rahal himself had a strong showing in 2021, leading 36 laps before a strategy play resulted in a 10th place finish. Although Rahal’s last IndyCar victory came in 2017 at Detroit in a double-header weekend, he remains confident in his abilities. Rahal acknowledged the increasing talent level of drivers in the series, resulting in fewer caution periods during races. He expressed a desire for a clean start to the race and the opportunity to control the race through a straightforward strategy.
The traditional strategy in recent years has favored the use of alternate tires. However, Rahal hinted at a potential departure from this trend. Rahal suggested that the red tires could catch many drivers off guard due to the cooler track temperature expected on race day. Traditionally, this race has been dominated by the use of red tires. Rahal revealed that his team had held back sets of the harder black compound tires to potentially use during the race. He emphasized that the red tires have a higher susceptibility to degradation, especially in hotter temperatures. Rahal believed that taking care of the red tires and managing their lifespan would be crucial in maintaining competitiveness during the race.
Using red tires efficiently in the race presents a significant challenge. Rahal expressed skepticism about their ability to last for the required duration. As a point of reference, Rahal has already completed a race distance on black tires during the weekend. This experience has given him confidence in the black compound’s ability to remain competitive. However, Rahal acknowledged that asking the red tires to last as long as 35 or 36 laps would be a considerable demand. He pointed out that most drivers would likely opt for a different strategy that involves a tire change.
Graham Rahal’s impressive qualifying performance has positioned him well for the upcoming race. His decision to utilize the harder black compound tires could potentially offer him an advantage over his competitors. Rahal’s consideration of tire strategies and his confidence in managing the red compound tires will be important factors in determining his success in the race. As Rahal aims to secure his first victory in several years, all eyes will be on his ability to navigate the challenges of tire degradation and execute a winning strategy.
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