A driver who qualified for the Indianapolis 500 will miss the storied race after fracturing a vertebra during practice Monday.
Stefan Wilson, 33, qualified for the race in 25th but remained hospitalized Tuesday after a 200 mph crash in turn 1 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Car owners Dennis Reinbold and Don Cusick had little time to find a replacement, so they picked the first man to miss the field of 33 — Graham Rahal, who had the 34th-fastest car in qualifying.
Rahal, the 34-year-old son of IndyCar legend Bobby Rahal, has raced in 15 straight Indy 500s. But that streak appeared in danger of ending after Rahal came up just short in qualifying for this year’s race.
With Wilson out and Reinbold and Cusick low on time, the two owners approached Rahal and asked if he’d be interested in taking over Wilson’s car.
After a series of sponsorship and team connections were shrugged off and worked out, the deal was done. Rahal, who has raced only Hondas in his 17-year career, will hop in the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing No. 24 Chevrolet.
“I spent my entire career in a Honda. I’ve never driven anything other than that,” Rahal said. “I wasn’t sure we would get the releases in place to make this happen. They really came together, two manufacturers, to allow this to take place, to allow us to race Sunday, and hopefully allow us to move his car to the front and have a really strong run.”
Because of the driver switch, Rahal will start last in the 33-car field.
As for Wilson, he’s recovering from his injuries and “fairly crushed emotionally, but supportive of what we’re doing out here,” Cusick said.