Bobby Rahal Named Grand Marshal of Mid-Ohio Event
INDYCAR
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and American Honda Motor Co., Inc. announced June 25 that Bobby Rahal, the 1985 and 1986 INDYCAR SERIES race winner at the Ohio road course, will serve as the honorary grand marshal of The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport on Sunday, July 6.
As grand marshal, Rahal will announce the most famous words in racing, 'Drivers, start your engines!' and participate in pre-race ceremonies for the 90-lap NTT INDYCAR SERIES race at Mid-Ohio (1 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).
Ohio native Rahal's connection to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course runs deep. In addition to his two INDYCAR SERIES wins at the track, three-time INDYCAR SERIES champion Rahal finished on the podium a remarkable eight of his 16 career starts on his home circuit, including in his last two races in 1997 and 1998.
'It's a great honor to be the grand marshal for The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio,' Rahal said. 'Mid-Ohio played an important role in my personal and professional life. I went to the first-ever race there with my father in 1962 and made annual trips there after that, sometimes twice a year. I got my first win at Mid-Ohio in my SCCA class in 1974, won both IROC races I competed in there, won the Lumberman's race and, of course, the two INDYCAR races in 1985 and 1986.'
Rahal also has won at Mid-Ohio as a team owner in 2015 with his son, Graham Rahal, taking the checkered flag at The Honda Indy 200 for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
The Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing shop was once located in nearby Hilliard, Ohio, in the same building which formerly housed Truesports Racing. Rahal drove for Truesports when entering the INDYCAR SERIES in 1982 and won the Indianapolis 500 with the Jim Trueman-owned team in 1986. Rahal is in a very select group of individuals who have won the Indianapolis 500 both as a driver and as an owner/entrant (2004 and 2020 as an owner).
'Being by (Jim) Trueman's side when he bought the track in 1980 and winning the IMSA race with him in 1983, as well as winning the INDYCAR races there and seeing Graham win there in 2015, are some of my greatest memories at one of my favorite tracks,' Bobby Rahal said. 'It was a privilege to drive on such a great circuit all those years.'
Visit midohio.com for ticket information for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport on July 4-6, the 42nd running of Ohio's biggest racing event. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES headlines the weekend of nine races across five different racing series, including INDY NXT by Firestone.
Children 12 and under receive free general admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult.
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