Gerry Hughes, who joined Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing as race engineer in March 2012, has been named head of development for the IZOD IndyCar Series program for drivers Graham Rahal and James Jakes.

Neil Fife, race engineer for the team’s most recent IndyCar win at Watkins Glen in 2008, will take over as Rahal's engineer for the remainder of the season. Mitch Davis has joined the team as crew chief.

“I want to thank Gerry for his hard work and efforts over the past year and a half as race engineer and I’m grateful that he has taken on the new role as head of development to ensure our success in the future," team co-owner Bobby Rahal said.

Hughes, who has a quarter century of trackside engineering experience in Formula One and GP2 among other series, worked with Rahal in the Jaguar Formula One program. He joined the team last year to be the race engineer for Takuma Sato, with whom he had worked with in the Super Aguri F1 team.

Most recently, Fife was race engineer for Sebastien Bourdais at Dragon Racing and Davis was team manager for Chip Ganassi Racing’s IndyCar program for Charlie Kimball.

"The last IndyCar race we won in 2008 with Ryan Hunter-Reay was with Neil at the helm as race engineer so it’s great to have him back," Rahal added. "I’m confident that he and Graham will work well together and we can have a successful last third of the season. These changes will be a big plus for us going forward.”

Through 13 races in his first season with the team, Rahal has a best finish of second at Long Beach among four top-10 finishes in the No. 15 Midas/Big O Tires car. Following an IZOD IndyCar Series Open Test July 31 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, both drivers will compete in the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio on Aug. 4.

"Bobby has always been committed to running at the highest levels of racing and you can see that in each of his teams and their competitive efforts," Fife said.  "It is truly a challenging and competitive time in the IndyCar Series this year and together I think we can elevate the success of Graham and the team.”

Bridge out

Fans traveling to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course should click HERE to learn about road construction in Ohio that might require a detour on the way to the facility next week.

The July 31 Open Test (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) is open to race ticket-holders or anyone who purchases a race ticket at the track that day.

What's new at Mid-Ohio? Fans will see some additional signage, including a Sunoco sign at the inside of the Carousel turn and another on the outside of Turn 1. Every inch of wood fencing has been stained brown, the track walls painted white and the guardrails red.

A great fit this week for Kanaan

Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kanaan will attempt to become the first driver to win two major races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the same year when he competes in the Grand-Am race July 26 in a Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Daytona Prototype.

It also will allow Kanaan to introduce his 6-year-old son, Leo, to the Speedway. 

"I haven't been to the track since the '500,' " Kanaan said. "For sure it will give me a great feeling when I drive through the tunnel for the first time, look at the Pagoda, all the things. I got so lucky, my kid is on vacation with me this month from Brazil. This deal came up a week ago. Coincidentally, he gets to be here. He wasn't here at the 500. As you guys all know, I promised him the trophy, he was going to get the Borg-Warner (Trophy). He's all excited. He's never been to Indianapolis. It's a great fit."

Tony Kanaan with Grand-Am Car