Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel said last weekend that he prefers “real” American circuits like Road America to the Miami Gardens street circuit.
When well-known IndyCar blogger Matt Archuleta quoted the German’s comment, American driver Graham Rahal responded: “I’ll turn it up and say it; Seb, if you ever want to try an IndyCar at RoadAmerica we’ll make it happen. an honor to have you in our car!”
Bobby Rahal , who co-owns the Rahal Letterman Lanigan team with David Letterman and Mike Lanigan, responded to his son’s tweet, declaring, “Seb, there’s a deal if you want it!”, prompting Graham to add “Bob has spoken. Let’s roll”.
Vettel himself was asked about the possibility after the race and Miami replied: “I have to take a look. But it’s a great track so we’ll see.”
Speaking to Motorsport.com on Monday, three-time IndyCar champion and 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal said his offer was serious.
“We don’t have a chance right now, but why not?” he said. “You couldn’t show IndyCar in a better place than Road America, and you couldn’t shoot in Road America better than with an IndyCar. So I’d love to see what Vettel thinks.”
“In the end, will a guy like him want to go to IndyCar after a very successful career in Formula 1? I don’t know. A lot of Europeans don’t like the idea of oval racing. But he’s only 30 years old, so that he has many years left to try other forms of competition”.
When RLL expanded to three cars ahead of this season, adding Christian Lundgaard to the team, Rahal made it clear that he expected the former Formula 2 driver to contest the full schedule, rather than do what Romain Grosjean and Jimmie Johnson did last year. , which was to focus on the permanent and street circuits of IndyCar. Asked if he would be more open to Vettel doing a part-time schedule to perhaps avoid the ovals, Rahal said: “Never say never.”
He explained: “Right now, our sponsors want a man in the car full-time. We’ve never been in a situation like Ed Carpenter this year, adding an extra car to just race on the ovals.”
“So for us to do it, it would have to be exactly the right situation. But if the opportunity presented itself to put someone like Seb in an extra car for a few races, we would have to strongly consider it.”
Rahal pointed out that there is enough flexibility in the rules that a team can test a driver even without any guarantee that he will join the series. Since the end of last season, five drivers who are not in the 2022 season have raced, including Ryan Hunter-Reay with Ed Carpenter Racing, Nyck De Vries with Meyer Shank Racing, Dane Cameron with Team Penske and both Nico Hulkenberg as Stoffel Vandoorne with Arrow McLaren SP.
“I think other teams would try to question it or raise their voices if we tested Vettel,” Rahal said. “But if he did one or two races afterwards, the series gives you those rookie days. And I’d like to think that IndyCar would be thrilled to have a front-row, world champion Formula 1 driver try one of our cars.”
Vettel’s last victory came about two and a half years ago, still with Ferrari. At Aston Martin, he usually beats Lance Stroll, although he has been caught off guard by the Canadian on a few occasions. However, Rahal said he believes Vettel still has what it takes to stand out, although he doubts his motivation.
He said: “It seems to me that after winning four world championships with Red Bull and then taking a lot of victories at Ferrari – driving for two of the greatest teams in Formula 1 history – it must be difficult to muster the energy and enthusiasm to racing a car where you know you don’t really have a hope of success.
“So maybe getting into IndyCar would revive a guy like Seb, knowing that success is very much up to him and not the technology. I don’t know for sure, but it certainly gives him pause.”
“But we’re talking about Vettel as if he could come to IndyCar, and he may not have any interest in it! But I would love for him to try one of our cars, and he’s right: Road America would be a great place to start.”
