IndyCar insider cites financial necessity behind RLL's multi-year deal with Devlin DeFrancesco

Devlin DeFrancesco was announced by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing as a full-time driver with the team for the 2025 IndyCar season. The Canadian reportedly signed a multi-year contract with the team. Indycar journalist Archie O’Reilly has now come out to reveal RLL’s financial necessity to sign DeFrancesco ahead of the other available free agents.

The IndyCar journalist featured on the Divebomb IndyCar podcast’s episode 85 and discussed the Canadian’s signing. He said:

“It’s not really a surprise and I do understand the frustration surrounding the whole pay driver argument but at the end of the day, that’s part of the sport. I mean this is a multi-year deal for DeFrancesco.” (1:32 onwards)

“I think the fact of the matter is that RLL needed the money and I think you can argue there are probably better options out there. In an ideal world where money was not a factor, you would probably have gone for a Linus Lundqvist or Rinus VeeKay, who are in a higher bracket and have proven themselves more than Devlin DeFrancesco has done.”

O’Reilly said that ultimately for a team to sustain themselves, they need the influx of money that DeFrancesco or Sting Ray Robb bring and that the finances can propel the team forward.

O’Reilly continued and explained how the money brought in by Devlin DeFrancesco will help RLL fund Louis Foster, who will be the Canadian’s teammate for 2025. Foster won the 2024 Indy NXT championship with Andretti Global and was picked up by RLL for the upcoming season.

DeFrancesco took a sabbatical in 2024 after racing for Andretti Global in 2022 and 2023.

---

“Very hungry for results”: Devlin DeFrancesco arrives at RLL with a combat mindset

Devlin DeFrancesco was Andretti Global’s project. The team brought the Canadian up the open-wheel racing ladder. He raced for Andretti in the Indy Pro 2000 championship and the Indy NXT before getting his big break in the IndyCar series. However, he only managed 23rd in the championship during his first season with the team and marginally improved to 22nd during the 2023 season. Despite sitting out the series for a year, DeFrancesco has come back with a positive mindset.

Devlin DeFrancesco - The 107TH Running of the Indianapolis 500 - Practice and Qualifying - Source: Getty

DeFrancesco said (via IndyCar.com):

“I’m very excited to be back in the INDYCAR SERIES. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has an amazing history and is also on an impressive trajectory. Seeing all the work that is going on from the men and women behind the scenes, it is easy to see that this team and myself are very hungry for results. I look forward to getting started with all the great people here.”

The 24-year-old will be driving the No. 30 Honda-powered IndyCar. During the 2024 calendar year, he raced in the IMSA Championship in the GTD class.