Rahal, Honda to team up for car on ‘03 IRL circuit

Friday, Dec. 6, 2002 | 9:56 a.m.

Team Rahal and Honda on Thursday announced that the team would field a car in the Indy Racing League in 2003 for 1998 IRL champion and 1999 Indianapolis 500 winner Kenny Brack.

Brack returns to Team Rahal after spending one season with Target/Chip Ganassi Racing in CART. Brack drove for team owner Bobby Rahal in 2000 and 2001 in CART and won four races and earned six poles in 40 races. In 19 races this season with TCGR, Brack had one win and one pole and finished sixth in points.

Rahal also will field a car in CART with driver Michel Jourdain Jr. and an entry in the Toyota Atlantic Series with Danica Patrick.

"Rejoining Bobby and the rest of Team Rahal and having the chance to work with Honda and two world-class sponsors in Pioneer and Miller Lite made this a great situation," Brack said. "We had a lot of success in my two years at Team Rahal and I am looking forward to continuing that success.

"A lot has changed in the IRL since my last season in 1999 but I am confident that between Honda and Team Rahal, I will have everything I need to be successful."

Pioneer and the Miller Brewing Company will sponsor Team Rahal's IRL entry.

"Today we start a new chapter in Team Rahal's history with this announcement," Rahal said. "The opportunity to again work with Kenny Brack, a championship driver whom I hold in high regard, and to team with Honda, Ilmor, Pioneer and our longtime partners at Miller Brewing on this program made this an ideal opportunity.

"For me personally, it means a great deal for Team Rahal to once again be involved with Honda. Given our history together, and how closely we worked together to bring Honda into open-wheel racing, to be asked by Honda to be part of this project is a great honor."

The Pioneer/Miller Lite entry for Team Rahal will utilize a Honda-powered Dallara chassis for the 16-race IRL schedule. The team will announce the formal make-up of its IRL team including team manager, engineers and support staff in the near future.