Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing announced that it has signed an agreement with the Army National Guard, the oldest component of the U.S. Armed Forces, to be the primary sponsor of the No. 15 entry driven by Graham Rahal for the 18-race IndyCar Series season

“This is an historic day for all of us at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing,” team co-owner Bobby Rahal said. “I can’t overstate how proud and how privileged we feel to represent the men and women of the Army National Guard. This is a huge responsibility that each of us feels and we are looking forward to working with the National Guard to achieve their goals.

“And I can’t imagine a better ambassador for those men and women than Graham, as an American, driving the National Guard Dallara-Honda IndyCar.”

Graham Rahal, 25, of New Albany, Ohio, in 2008 became the youngest winner of an open-wheel race when he prevailed in the season opener at St. Petersburg at age 19. The following season he became the youngest pole winner at the same event. Rahal enters his second year driving for the team co-owned by his father. The season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is March 30.

“I am really over the moon about driving the National Guard car,” he said. “Being an American and an extremely patriotic person, I am very proud of the men and women who fight for us and keep this great country safe and free. To have the opportunity to represent the National Guard and all that they do both here and abroad means more than anybody could ever know.

"This has been a long time coming; we have all worked very hard for this. For our sport, for every individual member of our team and for myself, this is probably the best news in the history of our organization. I am thrilled and feel very fortunate to be a part of this and I hope that I can make all the Guard soldiers proud and get them up front and winning both on and off the track.”