Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix: A Tough Day for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) faced a harrowing day at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, with all three of its cars encountering critical wheel and suspension failures that derailed their competitive prospects.
Devlin DeFrancesco’s No. 30 Honda was the first casualty, losing a rear wheel early in the 100-lap race. Graham Rahal, who was running a promising second, later experienced a similarly troubling loose rear wheel following a pit stop for fresh tires. DeFrancesco ultimately finished 23rd out of 27 drivers, completing 83 laps. "It’s just a big bummer," he stated. "We had a right rear wheel issue and overall it was a difficult day. We’ll move on."
Rahal, after losing three laps for repairs, settled for 20th place, expressing his frustration: "It’s a huge shame to have a possible great day thrown away. I had the same thing in warm-up, and so it leads to the question of the cause. I’m just super disappointed given the potential result."
The team’s remaining contender, Louis Foster, looked poised for a top-six finish until his No. 45 Honda suffered a front suspension failure, resulting in a crash into both the wall and Felix Rosenqvist’s vehicle. The incident, which took place just before a hairpin turn, prompted a red flag. "We were having a really good race; we were strong," Foster recounted. "I’ve never seen that happen before. This track is ridiculously bumpy. It’s super disappointing."
Both Foster and Rosenqvist, who finished 22nd and 23rd respectively, were released by IndyCar Medical following the incident. The day culminated in missed opportunities and questions for RLL, which will need to analyze the mechanical issues that cost them valuable points in the championship standings.
