Graham Rahal--Buckeye Fan

[osugrad21]

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Why I Love College Sports (Also Known As Fame And Notre Dame): IRL Driver Graham Rahal

Michael Rothstein

The Journal Gazette


Associated Press
Growing up in and around Columbus, Graham Rahal couldn't help but be an Ohio State fan.

Graham Rahal Narrowly Avoids A Crash Last Weekend
While Insights usually focuses on Notre Dame celebrity fans, we're branching out here, what with the Indianapolis 500 being this week and all, and experimenting with chatting with other big college football celebrity fans about the teams they support.
Graham Rahal is one of the rising stars in the IndyCar series and last year became the youngest ever winner of a major open-wheel race when he won at St. Petersburg. The 20-year-old starts on the inside of Row 2 in Sunday's Indianapolis 500 and has a legitimate shot of following in the footsteps of his father, Bobby Rahal, who won the 1986 Indy 500 from the inside of Row 2. Rahal, from Columbus, Ohio, is also a huge Ohio State fan.

Irish Insights: How'd you end up liking Ohio State football?
Graham Rahal: "Honestly, just growing up in Columbus, you're always, if you're not a Buckeyes fan and you live in Columbus, you're going to have some problems. You're so, being there, it's such a big part of the atmosphere of the whole city. Growing up, I was always a football fan but more so I loved the Buckeyes and I love anything where people get really enthusiastic about it and I don't think there's any place, obviously people are big college football supporters and everything else but that in particular, the success of the team is a big part of it but the support is incredible."
II: When was the first time you went to a game?
GR: "I've always, all my life. I went with my dad (1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal) and my mom and stuff. Nowadays, I try to make it to at least a couple games a year. It's hard for me because I'm traveling and working a lot and rarely get to go very often. The races always seem to be on every weekend there's a football game but I try to make it as much as I can."
Cont...

[brodybuck21]

Originally Posted by osugrad21

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[Pimpinnati]

Now I actually have a name to root for in the annual Indianapolis Left Turn extravaganza

[hhbuckeye]

Indy car was at Mid-Ohio today, and Graham's helmet had an Ohio State logo on each side. Jim Tressel was there too at some point and got a ride around the track in a two-seater open wheel car.

[SanClementeBuck]

Young Rahal brings back old memories at Ohio State: Jim Trueman, originally from Euclid, attended h.s. at Benedictine. We were Euclid buddies, and frat. bros. at tOSU (SAE), where Jim graduated w/BS, Engineering. He went on to be a major element in forming Red Roof Inns, and Truesports, a racing organization. Jim was big in Ohio car racing and started same at Burke Airport in Cleveland. At some point , Bobby Rahal raced for Jim's Truesport, and advanced as Jim's Indy driver to win the Indy 500. In great sadness, Jim Trueman died shortly after that iconic win.

When I see Rahal's name and Ohio State, I automatically think of Jim Trueman, a blue-blood Buckeye from Euclid, a great friend to many of us when we were young, and a Buckeye of considerable accomplishment. Jim died much too young.

[BrutusBobcat]

Thanks for sharing that, SCB. Even though I never met the man, I remember Jim Trueman every time I go to Mid Ohio to drive or spectate. He did an amazing job turning that track into a world-class motorsports venue, and left Ohio racing fans, drivers and enthusiasts a tremendous legacy. The Trueman family still owns and operates Mid Ohio, btw.

[SanClementeBuck]

Hey, Brutus. I'm sure the Truemans are proud of Jim's legacy. He and I were pretty close friends at age 18 to 21. As an underaged teen, Jim would "hire on" at constructions sites...often as a hod carrier for brick layers for summer work between school years. He was a bright guy, and in high school could run a very competitive mile time in h.s. track. I smile every time I think of Jim.