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David Letterman will have more to worry about than just what his top 10 jokes will be on his daily weeknight telecast. Rahal-Letterman racing is going to sit out the 2009 season due to the lack of a sponsor.

Rahal Letterman racing has come to a screeching halt despite having above average production in the last couple of years. The team celebrated an Indianapolis 500 victory in 2004 with Buddy Rice. They brought in Danica Patrick, possibly the league’s most well known driver commercially. Also upcoming driver Ryan Hunter-Reay won his first race last season and was a constant competitor both on the oval and road/street courses.

It comes with no surprise as financial troubles have struck the racing world in the last year with several teams having to cut back due to sponsorships being in real trouble due to poor economic situations in the United States.

With well known names in racing and show business it’s rather surprising, to me at least, that they are willing to sit this season out. I’m not a finance major but really sitting out…wow. It makes me think with the economy headed into no-mans-land and no way out in site will we see racing in two or three years? Will we see more teams drop out and do the same thing?

Will I have anything to write about?

I certainly hope not, but unfortunately it looks that way.

UPDATE:

Bobby Rahal recently issued a press release stating the following.

As I said in the quote from the story, as of this time we do not have any sponsorship that will allow us to compete in the IRL in 2009, but by no means does that mean that we are giving up. We are continuing to search for sponsorship to run the 2009 season and to run in the Indianapolis 500 and we feel that there is still time for us to put something together that will allow that to happen.

Here’s to the hope that they can sort out some sponsorships and get back in the race.

Andersen Racing’s, Firestone Indy Lights team is packing up and moving shop. They are off to Hilliard Ohio where they will set up shop in Rahal Letterman Racing’s facility. Rahal Letterman Racing has been working with Andersen Racing in the Firestone Indy Lights effort. This is clearly a strong step in the right direction for a team that wants to get more out of it’s FIL program. This team is clearly dedicated to open wheel racing fielding cars in the Firestone Indy Lights, Star Mazda Series, and F2000 Series. Anderson Racing hopes this big move will boost their effort and turn this team into a race winning team to a championship winning team.

As all of us know by now, Vitor Meira will not be returning to the cockpit of the #4 Panther Racing Machine next season.  Dan Wheldon has shifted over from Target Chip Ganassi Racing to replace Vitor.  Vitor was definitely caught off guard.  Apparently Vitor never received a phone call.  He was released through an e-mail that his manager received from Panther Racing.  Will Vitor have a ride for the 2009 season?  If so, where will he end up and who can possibly pick him up?  My choice would be Rahal Letterman Racing running a 2nd car.  He has driven for Rahal Letterman in the past and has driven well.  They would be a solid team with Ryan Hunter-Reay and Vitor assisting each other.  Ryan Hunter-Reay has already proved that he can run in this league with no problems and with no team mates to back him up.  At this point we can only hope for the best for Vitor in securing a ride for the 2009 season.