Rahal to receive sportsmanship award

Graham Rahal

Graham Rahal will receive the Texas Motor Speedway Sportsmanship Award during the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame Gala benefitting Speedway Children's Charities on April 11.

Rahal was selected for displaying a demeanor both on and off the track that exemplifies the meaning of sportsmanship. In June 2012, he appeared headed to his second career IZOD IndyCar Series victory before his ill-handling car brushed the wall. The bobble handed the lead and eventual victory to Justin Wilson. Following the race, Rahal handled situation as a true professional.

Nine months later, Rahal returned to the 1.5-mile oval for a March 27 test with his new team, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

"It always will be one that got away from me until I win my next one," said Rahal, who earned his first victory in his IZOD IndyCar Series debut in 2008. "Then I won't think about it. There are a lot of cases where I look back and it's frustrating that you didn't get to see it through. This is certainly one of them. It would have been nice to win and get rid of all the questions of when I'll win again, and all that sort of thing. But I think it adds fuel to the fire to come back here and do a good job this year."

The IZOD IndyCar Series returns to the speedway June 8 for the first prime time race on ABC.