Every now and then, drivers who have enjoyed illustrious careers are forced to move on thanks to Mother Nature.
It’s difficult to maintain the same performance levels as the human body fades in all sorts of physical and mental aspects.
In recent times, technology and research have helped people prolong their careers, but there’s only so far they can go.
With that in light, it’s probable that both Scott Dixon and Will Power are nearing the end of their IndyCar careers at the ages of 44 and 43 respectively.
Bobby Rahal says ‘longer-term view’ is priority
Bobby Rahal is a man who knows a lot about racing well into the 40s, having hung his racing gloves up at the age of 45.
His Rahal Letterman Lanigan team is one of just two that are yet to decide on either of their drivers for the 2025 season.
Speaking to RACER, he noted the need to focus on the younger talents, as they come up through the ranks searching for an opportunity.
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“Clearly, you look beyond him, and there’s a generational change starting to happen in the sense that guys like Scott Dixon and Will Power are all now in their early 40s, mid 40s,” he said.
“I drove to 45, so it can still be done, but you definitely have to be looking at the newer generation.
“There’s people coming from Europe, people from the Indy NXT paddock, and there’s a lot more younger guys out there looking for rides, so you have to be open and take a longer-term view of who you bring on because that’s the environment right now.”
Who could Rahal Letterman Lanigan sign?
There are plenty of options for Rahal Letterman Lanigan for 2025, but they have made it clear that the best candidates will bring sponsorship and speed.
IndyCar is an expensive business and any funds from a driver could go a long way towards making the car quicker and giving them a better foundation to perform from.
The likes of Romain Grosjean and Rinus VeeKay are available as older and more experienced heads, but it’s unlikely that either secure a seat.
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Sting Ray Robb is a good candidate considering his age and wealth of backing, but his career hasn’t been overly impressive so far.
Indy NXT drivers Louis Foster, Jacob Abel, and Jamie Chadwick are all on the market too, and could be options if Rahal decides to go with a longer-term view.