Rahal Letterman Lanigan Making Moves for 2012

Though they haven't field a full-time IndyCar effort since 2008, Bobby Rahal and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing have made some key additions in a push to once again grace the grid on a full-time basis next season. The first of those moves came in the form of Tom Anderson, hired as the team's President of Racing Operations. Anderson is a veteran of more than 40 years helped Target Chip Ganassi rise to prominence in the 1990's, leading the team's charge to four consecutive CART championships between 1996 and '99.

“I have known Tom since the Can-Am days in the 1970s and have always respected and admired how he went about his business,” Rahal said of Anderson. “I look forward to working with Tom and raising the competitive level of all aspects of the team. Also, I want to point out that Scott Roembke remains a valued member of our team and will act as a consultant and advisor to the team in 2012 and beyond.”

Anderson is enthusiastic about joining Rahal's operation. "I am extremely excited to be a part of the expanding program at Rahal Letterman Lanigan,” Anderson said. “They have a championship-winning team in the ALMS and what we want to do is to continue that success and build the Indy Car side to enable it to match their sportscar prowess. I am looking forward to working with the new car as well as working with the quality people that RLL has assembled on its team.”

Additionally, they have announced a partnership with Honda to power the team in 2012. “We are pleased to once again be partnering with Honda,” said Rahal, who helped bring Honda into IndyCar racing in the early 90's with his CART squad. “We have a storied history with Honda and respect its tradition of excellence in motorsports. In putting together our plans for 2012, we felt that having the full support of a proven winner such as Honda would aid us in building a strong program and we intend to represent Honda in the best manner possible.”

Erik Berkman, President of Honda Performance Development, discussed his history with Rahal in the announcement. “Many fans already know that the roots of Honda’s relationship with Bobby Rahal and his team extend to our initial entry into American open-wheel racing in the early 1990s. In addition to being our first partner when Honda entered Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) competition in 1994, the Rahal team also joined us when Honda entered the IndyCar Series in 2003 and joined us in Victory Circle with driver Buddy Rice for Honda’s first Indianapolis 500 win in 2004. We’re looking forward to continuing our long and successful relationship with Rahal Letterman Lanigan as IndyCar begins a new era of multi-manufacturer competition in 2012.”

Further announcements regarding drivers and sponsorships will come at a later date.