Showing His True Feelings: Graham Rahal Breaks Silence and Exposes the Truth Behind Rejecting FOX’s Outrageous Offer to Star in Josef Newgarden’s Ad After Retirement Talks
In the high-octane world of IndyCar racing, where rivalries simmer just beneath the surface of blistering laps and roaring engines, few moments cut deeper than a driver’s candid rejection of a spotlight meant to celebrate the sport’s stars. Graham Rahal, the veteran wheelman with 19 seasons under his belt and a legacy intertwined with the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team, has finally shattered the silence surrounding his abrupt dismissal of a promotional opportunity from FOX Sports. The network, stepping into its role as IndyCar’s exclusive broadcaster for 2025, crafted a series of viral ads that propelled drivers like Josef Newgarden, Alex Palou, and Pato O’Ward into the mainstream consciousness. But for Rahal, the offer to cameo in Newgarden’s spot—amid swirling retirement rumors—felt like anything but an honor. In a raw, unfiltered appearance on the “Off Track with Hinch and Rossi” podcast this week, Rahal laid bare the “outrageous” details, revealing a script that reduced him to little more than a punchline prop.
It was late 2024 when the buzz began. FOX, eager to inject fresh energy into IndyCar’s marketing ahead of the 2025 season, rolled out a trio of cinematic promos designed to humanize its top talents. Newgarden’s ad, the first to drop, was a masterstroke of star power, featuring NFL legend Tom Brady in a narrative blending grit, glory, and a dash of humor. Palou’s followed, showcasing the Chip Ganassi Racing phenom’s unflappable precision, while O’Ward’s Arrow McLaren entry captured the Mexican driver’s infectious charisma. These spots didn’t just air; they exploded, racking up millions of views and a 27% spike in season viewership. Fans devoured the glimpses into these drivers’ psyches, turning IndyCar into water-cooler fodder beyond the ovals. Yet, behind the glamour, whispers circulated about who else had been approached—and why some turned it down.
Enter Graham Rahal, the 36-year-old son of racing royalty, whose own journey has been a tapestry of near-misses and unyielding perseverance. With two third-place finishes at the Indy 500 (2011 and 2020) and a career-best fourth at the Sonsio Grand Prix this year, Rahal has long been a fan favorite for his straight-talking demeanor and family-first ethos. But 2025 was different. Retirement talk had dogged him since the offseason, fueled by his booming business ventures—Graham Rahal Performance, a nine-figure car customization empire, and partnerships like Rahal Ducati. On the podcast, Rahal didn’t mince words about his future: “Not gonna race much longer,” he admitted, citing growing family commitments and a desire to groom successors at RLL. “I’ve got a whole bunch left that I can still do,” he echoed sentiments from past interviews, but the pull of fatherhood and legacy-building was growing stronger. These murmurs made him a poignant figure in FOX’s eyes—a bridge between eras, perfect for a reflective ad arc.
What FOX pitched, however, was far from celebratory. Rahal recounted the moment with visceral disdain: “No, no, no. I was invited to be like a Bush trimmer in Josef Newgarden’s thing. And I said, no. Bro, when they sent me this, when they sent me the script, I’m like, f*** that. You’re not getting me to do that. I’m out. Like, I’m not doing that.” The role? A literal gardener, clipping hedges in the background of Newgarden’s triumphant tale—a subtle nod, perhaps, to Rahal’s impending exit from the cockpit. To Rahal, it smacked of disrespect, reducing a driver with nearly two decades of IndyCar battles to a sight gag. “They weren’t even giving me my own promo,” he clarified, pushing back against earlier reports from NASCAR reporter Jamie Little, who suggested on Conor Daly’s “Speed Street” podcast that Rahal had simply “missed the opportunity.” Little had prodded FOX CEO Eric Shanks about expanding the series, only to learn Rahal’s involvement was limited to this cameo—and that he’d walked away.
The revelation has ignited a firestorm in IndyCar circles, exposing fault lines in how the series markets its depth. Rahal has been vocal all season about FOX’s narrow focus. In April, on the “SpeedFreaks” podcast, he lashed out: “They’re only marketing three drivers. That’s factual. The only things you have seen to date is Pato, Josef, and Palou. There’s a lot of other great people; forget about me… You’ve got Scott Dixon. How do you ignore Scott Dixon? (He’s the) Greatest of all time.” By August, amid Penske’s sale of a stake in IndyCar to FOX, Rahal doubled down on “Off Track,” urging diversification: “They need to build more names. They need to have more ads. I think that’s the biggest thing that maybe FOX needs to learn.” His critique wasn’t sour grapes; it was a call to arms for a sport he loves, one that risks alienating its broad talent pool by anointing a select few.
Newgarden, ever the sportsman, has navigated the awkwardness with grace. The two-time Indy 500 winner and Rahal’s on-track rival share a mutual respect, evident in a May FOX event where Rahal’s co-owner David Letterman cheekily rooted for Rahal over Newgarden at Indy. “I’ve made friends with Josef… but Graham, I would like to see Graham win,” Letterman quipped, drawing laughs from Newgarden himself. Yet Rahal’s rejection underscores a deeper tension: In a series dominated by Team Penske’s machinery, where Newgarden claimed his second straight 500 crown in 2024 before a challenging 2025, veterans like Rahal fight for visibility. His P4 at Sonsio was a highlight in an otherwise middling year (18th in points), a reminder of the talent FOX overlooked.
Rahal’s outburst resonates beyond the garage. Fans on social media have rallied, decrying the “bush trimmer” slight as emblematic of IndyCar’s growing pains under new ownership. “Graham’s the heart of this series—don’t prop him up as a joke,” one X user posted, echoing a sentiment that trended briefly post-podcast. FOX, for its part, has stayed mum, but insiders hint at plans for broader 2026 campaigns, perhaps learning from Rahal’s blueprint. As he eyes two more seasons max, Rahal’s stand feels like a mic drop from a man who’s always raced on his terms. In exposing the truth behind the offer, he’s not just rejecting a role—he’s reclaiming his narrative, proving that true feelings in racing cut sharper than any script. Whether this sparks a marketing renaissance or fades into offseason chatter, one thing’s clear: Graham Rahal won’t go quietly into that good night. Not as a trimmer, not as a footnote. In IndyCar’s spotlight, he’s demanding his due—and the sport would be wise to listen.
