No joke: Letterman joins Indy racing team
NEW YORK (AP - Feb 13, 1996) -- David Letterman, a longtime Indy-car fan, confirmed Tuesday night he has become a minor partner of Bobby Rahal's auto racing team."Having grown up in Indianapolis and been in love with racing and it's heroes for as long as I can remember, it's literally a dream come true for me to become this much a part of a sport that has meant so much to me," he said.
The television talk show host made the announcement at a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Manhattan along with Rahal, the team's majority owner and principal driver.
"I'm thrilled with the team," Letterman said. "They've promised me my own air wrench."
Letterman joins actor Paul Newman and former pro football stars Walter Payton and Joe Montana as celebrity part-owners of Indy-car teams.
Rahal, a three-time PPG Indy Car World Series champion and the 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner, reorganized his team this season after ending a four-year partnership with Carl Hogan. He also hired 25-year-old Bryan Herta as his teammate for 1996.
Rahal said he and Letterman began talking about a partnership after they met in 1986.
"We agreed that if the time was ever right, we'd give it some serious consideration," Rahal said. "With my starting the new team, it finally seemed to make sense. And now, here we are.
"From a marketing standpoint, it's an outstanding opportunity for the team and our sponsors. It's also going to be a lot of fun. Dave is far from a casual observer of motor sports. He's been with us at a number of races already, and is an informed and knowledgeable enthusiast. We're looking forward to his active contributions."
Rahal, 42, who will field Mercedes-powered Reynard Indy cars this season. The team, headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, will begin the 16-race 1996 season on March 3 at Homestead, Fla.