IndyCar Legend Bobby Rahal Will Be Honored At Mid-Ohio IndyCar Race

One of the legendary names in racing history at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Bobby Rahal, will be honored at the July 6 Honda Indy 500 at Mid-Ohio on the 40^th anniversary of his first win at the historic track.

Rahal is the 1985 and 1986 IndyCar race winner at the legendary Ohio track and will serve as the honorary grand marshal of The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport on Sunday, July 6.

As grand marshal, Rahal will announce the most famous words in racing, “Drivers, start your engines” as well as participate in pre-race ceremonies for the 90-lap NTT IndyCar Series race at Mid-Ohio. The race will broadcast globally with live coverage nationally starting at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on FOX.

Rahal’s Ohio Roots

Rahal was born in Medina, Ohio, and later a Dublin, Ohio, then New Albany, Ohio resident, Rahal’s connection to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course runs deep and is long-standing.

In addition to his two IndyCar wins at the track, the three-time IndyCar Series champion finished on the podium a remarkable eight of his 16 career starts on his home circuit including in his last two races in 1997 and 1998.

Rahal has also won at Mid-Ohio as a team owner in 2015 with his son Graham Rahal taking the checkered flag at The Honda Indy 200 for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

The Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing shop was once located in nearby Hilliard, Ohio in the same building which formerly housed Truesports Racing. Rahal drove for Truesports when entering the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) series in 1982 and won the Indianapolis 500 with the Jim Trueman-owned team in 1986.

Incredible Career As Driver And Owner

The multiple motorsports hall of fame inductee is in a very select group of individuals who have won the Indianapolis 500 both as a driver and as an owner/entrant (2004 and 2020 as an owner).

“It’s a great honor to be the grand marshal for The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. Mid-Ohio played an important role in my personal and professional life,” Rahal said. “I went to the first ever race there with my father in 1962 and made annual trips there after that, sometimes twice a year.

“I got my first win at Mid-Ohio in my SCCA class in 1974, won both IROC races I competed in there, won the Lumberman’s race and of course the two INDYCAR races in 1985 and 1986.”

Rahal’s Deep Connections To Mid-Ohio

But Rahal’s connection with Mid-Ohio was deeper at personal. The owner of Mid-Ohio was Jim Trueman, who was also Rahal’s team owner.

“Being by (Jim) Trueman’s side when he bought the track in 1980 and winning the IMSA race with him in 1983 as well as winning the IndyCar races there and seeing Graham win there in 2015 are some of my greatest memories at one of my favorite tracks,” Rahal said. “It was a privilege to drive on such a great circuit all those years.”

Additionally, Jun Jayaraman, senior vice president, Manufacturing Management Center of Honda Development & Manufacturing of America (HDMA), will be this year’s honorary starter, waving the green flag to start the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race. Paul Dentinger, senior vice president, Purchasing & Supply Chain Center of HDMA, will be the trophy presenter to the podium finishers for post-race ceremonies.

“We are honored to celebrate Bobby Rahal’s many racing accomplishments and his tremendous legacy at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course by naming him this year’s grand marshal. He’s a true motorsports icon from the Buckeye State,” said Craig Rust, president of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. “Thank you to Paul Dentinger and Jun Jayaraman for also joining us to serve in these honorary positions. Mr. Jayaraman, Mr. Dentinger and the thousands of associates from the nearby manufacturing and R&D facilities joining us next weekend will make this another memorable Honda gathering.”

The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport on July 4-6 marks the 42nd running of Ohio’s biggest racing event.

The NTT IndyCar Series headlines the weekend of nine races across five different racing series. The full development ladder of the sport’s rising stars will be on display with INDY NXT by Firestone, USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire, USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire and USF Juniors Presented by Continental Tire all competing on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn road course.

Red, White And Blue Fourth Of July Celebrations

The event will also feature its annual off-track Fourth of July celebrations.

On Saturday, July 5, campers are encouraged to decorate their sites in red, white and blue as part of the Camping with Honda tradition.

Honda-powered NTT IndyCar Series drivers will begin to tour the campsites in the late afternoon after the IndyCar qualifying session, followed by a fireworks display just after dusk.

The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a comprehensive motorsports facility in Lexington, Ohio, that includes 380 acres and features a permanent road-racing circuit with two primary race track configurations: 2.4-mile, 15-turn or 2.258-mile, 13-turn layout.

It is located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield.

The natural terrain road course is commonly referred to as the “Most Competitive in the U.S.” and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned race events for amateur, club and professional drivers and riders.

It is also home to The Mid-Ohio School, featuring over 20 driving and riding courses, for teenagers to professional racers using Honda vehicles.

Opened in 1962, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has been owned and operated by Green Savoree Mid-Ohio, LLC since 2011, just the raceway’s third private ownership group in its history.

And Bobby Rahal will have reason to celebrate with his latest honor at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.