RLL Poised for Victory with Sharper Pit Stops This Sunday

Pit work often decides the Indianapolis 500. RLL arrives with class-leading pit crew form for Sunday’s 110th Running presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Graham Rahal’s No. 15 United Rentals crew jumps from ninth in 2023 to first in this year’s Firestone Pit Performance Award standings.

The group ranked second at Phoenix, first at the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, and third at the Sonsio Grand Prix on May 9.

Friday’s Oscar Mayer Pit Stop Challenge ended early after five matchups, rain forcing the first cancellation since 2008 outside the pandemic years.

Rahal had been due to face teammate Louis Foster. Foster’s crew sits ninth this season after climbing from 23rd last year.

That unit took second in pit performance at St. Petersburg and the Children’s of Alabama race on March 29. Mick Schumacher also missed the contest.

RLL credits pit stop manager Kyle Sagan for the step. He contributed to Alex Palou’s 2023 Ganassi title, then aided Arrow McLaren’s pit gains across 2024 and 2025.

Rahal highlights professionalism and repeatability over flash. The team sharpened pit-in and pit-out speeds and improved stopping accuracy to reduce cumulative time loss.

Practice disruptions magnified Carb Day’s importance for setup work, as outlined in recent paddock reports. Cool, cloudy conditions allowed two full hours for all 33 drivers.

Josef Newgarden headed the speed chart at 228.342 mph in the No. 2 Penske Chevrolet. He had also been fastest before Monday’s rain-shortened running.

Kyle Kirkwood, starting 25th, reported confidence in cooler traffic runs. Teams expect similar balance requirements if temperatures stay low.

Alex Palou remains a central figure. His 2025 winning car sits in the IMS Museum, while his DHL Ganassi car that earned pole is also on display.

His profile is visible across Indianapolis, including the JW Marriott where he signed with Ganassi in 2020.

Santino Ferrucci hits 100 career INDYCAR starts on Sunday. He starts fifth, targeting a first victory after third in 2023.

A win would also end AJ Foyt Racing’s 13-year drought in INDYCAR competition.

Marcus Ericsson, the 2022 winner, seeks momentum after a bruising 2023. He earned his first NTT P1 Award and starts 17th.

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, from the Artemis II mission, adds pre-race interest. That lunar venture marked the first human trip near the Moon in over five decades.

With pit execution pivotal and setups refined on Carb Day, margins look slim. The race starts 10 a.m. ET on FOX, FOX One, FOX Deportes, and INDYCAR Radio.

Visual Summary

Brian Thompson

Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.