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Three-time PPG CART World Series champion Bobby Rahal will close hisdriving career at the conclusion of the 1998 season, the two-timeDriver of Year and Indianapolis 500 winner announced today at histeam's Hilliard, Ohio headquarters.
'I promised myself that I would retire from driving when I thought Icould be of greater value to my team as an owner than as a driver,"Rahal said. "I believe that time has come."
Rahal, who has served as both owner and driver for Team Rahal sinceits inception, will focus full time on the owner role and hisexpanding business interests after the 1998 season's completion.
"The demands for my attention from all our business enterprises havegrown through the years," Rahal said. "I take that as a sign of theirsuccess. And though they will require more of my time in the future,I still have the kind of desire it takes to drive, to compete and towin. I intend to go out on top."
Rahal will field Reynard Ford Cosworth Indy cars on Firestone tiresfor himself and teammate Bryan Herta in next year's 19-race PPG Cupcampaign. He enters the PPG-Dayton Indy Lights Championship as a teamowner for the first time in 1998 and recently announced Gloy-RahalRacing, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team in which he owns aninterest. Rahal also serves on the CART Board of Directors. Among hisnon-racing-related enterprises are namesake Honda, Toyota, Lexus, andMercedes-Benz dealerships.
"Bobby is finishing an heroic career with dignity and grace," saidTeam Rahal co-owner David Letterman. "The sport is lucky to have him.I'm lucky to have him as a friend and partner."
"Every race fan in America will miss seeing Bobby on the track," saidCART President and CEO Andrew Craig. "He is one of the sport'sall-time greats and a truly world-class competitor."
Miller, Rahal's sponsor since 1992, will use its famous Lite brand tocommemorate Rahal's final racing season - RAHAL'S LAST RIDE -throughout the 1998 CART season with special celebrations at eachvenue on the 19-race tour. The company will be a contributor to anewly established Bobby Rahal Foundation, a not-for-profit endowmentcreated to generate and distribute charitable funds raised during"Rahal's Last Ride" tour. The foundation will identify worthwhileorganizations within the race markets making up the 1998 CART season.
As a driver, the 44-year-old Rahal ranks second all-time in careerCART earnings, and 11th in career wins (24) and career poles (18). Heis the leader among active drivers in starts (246), ranking himseventh all-time. He joins retired driver Rick Mears as CART's onlythree-time PPG Cup champions (1986, '87 and '92). 
Source: CART News Service