No Ride for Rahal

It was something that I had barely even noticed, but as Curt Cavin's piece in the IndyStar pointed out, rising star Graham Rahal doesn't have a ride for the 2010 IndyCar season.

For a driver of his talent level (7th in points last season) and heritage (father Bobby won the 1986 Indy 500), such a fact is inexplicable. Failing a proper explanation, it can only come down to one factor: money.

Rahal's McDonald's sponsorship from last season was dropped, and he has no ticket for 2010. Other less-talented drivers that are already attached to sponsors have secured rides. Hell, they'd probably put just about anybody in an IndyCar as long as the price was right.

The shutout of Rahal goes against the founding principle of the IndyCar Series, which was to provide ample opportunities to American drivers in open-wheel racing. As it sits right now, only four Americans are slated to participate in the 2010 season, and three reside on the Andretti Autosport team (Andretti, Patrick, Hunter-Reay). After boasting six American champions in their first seven years of existence, only one American (Sam Hornish, Jr.) has won a points title in the last seven.

IndyCar has bigger problems that just the lack of Americans in the series, but it is a problem that needs solving. Casual fans are attracted to names like Andretti and Rahal, but not Mutoh and Viso.