Graham Rahal criticized a four-time IndyCar champion for his selfish behavior during their time as teammates in 2007. Speaking on the Throttle Therapy podcast, Rahal reflected on how the pairing left a negative impression early in his career, highlighting the challenges he faced alongside the seasoned driver.
Rahal began his Champ Car career in 2007 with Newman/Haas Racing, a year prior to the merger that formed the current IndyCar Series. During his rookie season, he worked alongside Sebastian Bourdais, who had just secured three consecutive championships and would win a fourth in 2007. Despite Bourdais’ success, Rahal’s experience with him was less than ideal.
Early Career Clashes with a Four-Time Champion
On the podcast hosted by Katherine Legge, Rahal was asked about his favorite teammate, and he immediately praised the late Justin Wilson, emphasizing Wilson’s talent and leadership. Rahal explained how Wilson’s approach was entirely different from that of Bourdais, whose attitude he found obstructive.
“From a talent, leadership perspective, it’s Justin. I don’t think, for me, there’s anybody that’ll come close.”
“Year 1 of my career, I was with Bourdais,” Rahal said. “You know, Sebastian had won multiple championships and so on, but he was the least helpful teammate, and I don’t care if he sees this. I like Sebastian, but he was so selfish.”
Rahal recounted a particular test at Portland, where he managed to outpace Bourdais in the morning session, provoking an angry reaction from his teammate. The young Rahal was surprised by Bourdais’ response, expecting encouragement instead of frustration.
“Any time I was close, I remember at Portland testing, I was faster than him, in testing, in the morning. Not at the end of the day, I wasn’t. In the morning. And he was irate! And I was 17 or 18. I remember, I was like, ‘What the hell is this?’ I would think he’d be happy, like, ‘Oh man, good job, rookie,'” he added.
The Positive Influence of Justin Wilson
With the IndyCar merger completed in 2008, Bourdais moved on to Formula 1 with Toro Rosso, and Justin Wilson took his place as Rahal’s teammate. The dynamic between Rahal and Wilson quickly proved to be much more supportive and encouraging. Rahal highlighted how Wilson’s mentorship was a cornerstone in his early development, offering advice both on and off the track.
“Justin, for me, was the opposite (of Bourdais). Justin, for me, was like, ‘Hey, how can I help you?’ Like, you need life advice, racing advice, when I was quick, or like when I won St. Pete (first career win in 2008), the first guy I saw was Justin.”
Tragically, Justin Wilson passed away in August 2015 after suffering fatal injuries from debris during the ABC Supply 250 at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania, marking a sad moment in IndyCar history and for those he had mentored.
Building New Bonds with Rookie Teammates
Nearly two decades into his career, Rahal became the veteran presence at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2025 when rookie Louis Foster joined the team. Foster’s impressive performance in the feeder Indy NXT series quickly translated into strong results in IndyCar, sometimes even beating Rahal’s pace during race weekends.
Rahal expressed his admiration and affection for Foster, noting their unexpected camaraderie both on and off the track. Their growing friendship also reflects Rahal’s desire to support younger drivers as Justin Wilson had supported him.
“From a personality perspective, I love Louis,” Graham Rahal said on the aforementioned podcast. “I don’t know why. I did not expect, I’m not gonna lie, but he’s just a funny little bastard. I love, like, I just really enjoy Louis.”
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Rahal will continue mentoring new talent as Mick Schumacher joins Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, reinforcing Rahal’s role as a seasoned guide to emerging drivers entering the series.
