#45 – Christian Lundgaard, eighth within the championship standings (390 factors) – 17 races
- 1 win, 1 podium, 4 prime fives, 9 prime 10s, 2 poles, 6 Quick Six Appearances
- Finest End: 1st (Toronto)
- Finest Begin: 1st (IMS Street Course – Race 1, Toronto)
#15 – Graham Rahal, fifteenth within the championship standings (276 factors) – 17 races, 16 w/ RLL
- 0 wins, 1 podium, 1 prime 5, 5 prime 10s, 2 poles, 3 Quick Six Appearances
- Finest End (w/ RLL): 2nd (IMS Street Course – Race 2)
- Finest Begin (w/ RLL): 1st (IMS Street Course – Race 2, Portland)
#30 – Jack Harvey, twenty fourth within the championship standings (146 factors) – 14 races
- 0 wins, 0 podiums, 0 prime fives, 0 prime 10s, 0 poles, 1 Quick Six Look
- Finest End: thirteenth (Lengthy Seaside)
- Finest Begin: 4th (IMS Street Course – Race 1)
#30 – Juri Vips, thirty third within the championship standings (18 factors) – 2 races
- 0 wins, 0 podiums, 0 prime fives, 0 prime 10s, 0 Quick Six Appearances
- Finest End: 18th (Portland)
- Finest Begin: thirteenth (Laguna Seca* – certified seventh)
#30 – Conor Daly, twenty fifth in championship standings (134 factors) – 11 races, 1 w/ RLL
- 0 wins, 0 podiums, 0 prime fives, 0 prime 10s, 0 poles, 0 Quick Six Appearances (* w/ RLL)
- Finest End (w/ RLL): sixteenth (Gateway)
- Finest Begin (w/ RLL): eleventh (Gateway* – certified fifteenth)
#44 – Katherine Legge, thirty seventh in championship standings (5 factors) – 1 race
- 0 wins, 0 podiums, 0 prime fives, 0 prime 10s, 0 poles, 0 Quick Six Appearances
- Finest End: thirty third (Indianapolis 500)
- Finest Begin: twenty ninth (Indianapolis 500* – certified thirtieth)
Joey Barnes: Whereas there have been frustrations on ovals, RLL was a drive to be reckoned with on street and road circuits. The group’s mark of 4 poles tied Workforce Penske for second-most on the yr.
It wasn’t a shock to see Christian Lundgaard seize his first-ever IndyCar Sequence win, however method through which he did so definitely was. The Dane was a delight with a cerebral efficiency, main 54 of 85 laps from pole at Toronto, holding calm regardless of the calamity of cautions; and only a week previous to turning 22 years outdated. Whereas that was his solely journey to the rostrum, he collected three fourth-place outcomes, too. Ending eighth within the championship in solely a second full-time season, forward of each driver of Andretti Autosport and solely 35 factors behind Workforce Penske’s Will Energy, is definitely one thing to construct on transferring into 2024.
For as demoralizing because it was for Graham Rahal to not qualify for the Indianapolis 500 (later changing for the injured Stefan Wilson at Dreyer & Reinbold Racing), there have been glimpses of resurgence in the course of the yr. The pole on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Street Course was spectacular, and was the one one urgent Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon for the win that day.
Though not changing pole right into a podium – or prime 10 – at Portland was probably maddening, the one I hold considering of because the one which bought away was Mid-Ohio. He began on the entrance row and was pushing pole-sitter Colton Herta, particularly the additional a stint went on, however each finally misplaced out to technique as Alex Palou jumped each from fourth. Rahal’s early tempo at Mid-Ohio was stout and sure would have solely been enhanced with clear air and constant day out entrance, nevertheless it didn’t come to be.
Nonetheless, there have been flashes of the model of Rahal that routinely fought for podiums and wins not that way back. So, undoubtedly one thing to construct on for subsequent yr.
Picture by: Gavin Baker / Motorsport Photos
Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
Nick Degroot: For essentially the most half, issues moved in a constructive course for the Rahal crew in 2023. They returned to the highest step of the rostrum for the primary time in almost three years with Christian Lundgaard taking victory at Toronto. The Dane led RLL’s efforts this yr, ending the yr eighth within the championship standings.
Graham Rahal had a multi-pole season for the primary time since 2009, however could not fairly snap that pesky winless streak. Nonetheless, he was in competition and led extra laps in 2023 than he has in any season since 2017.
Issues did not go as effectively for Jack Harvey, who was changed close to the top of the season. Pietro Fittipaldi will take over that trip in 2024 as he offers IndyCar racing one other shot.
RLL was far weaker on the ovals than they have been on street and road programs, and that was extraordinarily obvious on the Indianapolis 500. Three of the 4 automobiles compelled into last-chance qualifying have been from RLL Racing, and Harvey finally bumped team-mate Rahal from the sector. They definitely have some work to do on the ovals in 2024, or else they might face one other nightmarish expertise at IndyCar’s crown jewel occasion.
