Gearing Up for the Verizon IndyCar Series
With the 17-race Verizon IndyCar Series season kicking off now, things are looking good for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. As a starter, the team was able to confirm that they have expanded their two full time entries, something they have not been able to do since 2013. The team will be bringing back Takuma Sato, the reigning Indianapolis 500 winner, who left in 2012, and he will be teaming up with Graham Rahal for the 2018 season.
A flurry of lucrative sponsorship deals have also given the team a boost and big name brands are now set to back the team for all, or part thereof, of the season. This is quite a turn around for the team as they had previously been forced to run on apart-time schedule as they lacked decent sponsorship. The team has limped along since 2011, and they had just 4 race starts, and faced a very uncertain future. This seem to have all changed now, as not only have they secured solid sponsorship, they have also excelled in the off-season.
The team owners had to make some hard decisions in the past, and at one stage were ready to pull the plug. However a change of fortunes saw them fully committed and Rahal, Letterman and Lanigan are now happy to be in a position where their perseverance paid off.
With the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg opening the season, all eyes will be on the team that looks to have made it back from the edge and are hoping for a fantastic year.
| # | Site | Bonus | Bet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Betway |  | 5/5 | Up to $60 NZD | Bet now Review |
| 2 |  | Picklebet | | 4.9/5 | Login to see promotions | Bet now |
| 3 |  | Palmerbet | | 4.8/5 | 100% Match | Bet now |
More About Trent Wilson
Trent Wilson is OnlineBetting.nz’s resident sports news expert. He draws on his extensive sporting knowledge, his qualification in sports management and his passion for betting to provide the latest, most up to date information on sporting events in New Zealand and across the globe. Trent is a veritable treasure trove of sports information and has been betting online for several years. He prides himself in keeping his readers informed, and in always offering an unbiased standpoint that reflects exactly what’s going on in the sports world.
View Posts - Visit WebsiteYou May Also Like:
Supercars To Return To Pukekohe Park
With the trans-Tasman bubble now an actual reality, and one going up this week, Supercars will get to make a long-awaited return to Pukekohe Park this November. Supercars CEO Sean Seamer recently told members of the media that the news around the trans-Tasman travel bubble is the biggest thing for ….
Greg Murphy Confirms NZ Grand Prix ‘21 Entry
New Zealand motorsport veteran Greg Murphy has confirmed he will make a 2021 return to the New Zealand Grand Prix – 27 years after winning it at the age of only 21. The four-time Bathurst winner won the famous trophy before going on to a super-successful career in Supercars. In ….
Kenny Smith To Race Half-Century GP Aged 79
New Zealand motor racing veteran Kenny Smith will in January line up to race his 50th NZ Grand Prix – at the age of 79. Smith is the first confirmed entry into the 66th running of the New Zealand Grand Prix. He is a three-time winner of the world-famous race ….
2021 NZ Supercars Race Not Yet A Done Deal
Though the New Zealand round of the 2021 Supercars series has been confirmed as taking place on November 6-7 by Supercars, the actual financial backers of the NZ round, Auckland Unlimited, have not yet been willing to confirm that the event is in fact officially locked in. Next year’s Supercars ….
Mt Smart Stadium to Host World Rally Championship
The Mount Smart Stadium in Penrose has presented a range of not just acclaimed international athletes but performing artists as well. But in September 2020, it will be delivering something brand-new. Organisers have just announced that the stadium will be hosting a special racecourse when Rally New Zealand returns later ….