“What a damn small world”: Graham Rahal reveals his connection with popular comedian Shane Gillis

IndyCar driver Graham Rahal shared an amusing coincidence that linked him with famous comedian Shane Gillis. In addition to his successful IndyCar career, Rahal's family also owns a Honda dealership in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

The car dealership is owned and named after his 1986 Indy 500-winning father, Bobby Rahal, and is a 25-time recipient of the Honda President's Award. On Thursday, January 9, at a dealership partner meeting, Graham learned that Gillis worked for their Mechanicsburg dealership as a salesman. He took to X to reveal this, writing:

"As our dealership partner meetings. Just learned @Shanemgillis used to sell Honda’s for us at our dealership in Mechanicsburg! What a damn small world 😂"

Gillis is a Mechanicsburg native and also began his comedy career in Pennsylvania before moving to Philadelphia for better opportunities. He is known for co-creating the Netflix Series 'Tires' with Steve Gerben and John McKeever, centered around a struggling auto repair shop. Gillis is also famous for his Donald Trump impression.

Bobby Rahal also owns a Toyota and Lexus dealership near their Honda dealership in Carlisle Pike. Graham Rahal followed in his father's footsteps and created Graham Rahal Performance and owns Ducati and Piaggio motorcycle dealerships.

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Graham Rahal responds to critics with an assessment of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's progress

AUTO: MAY 17 IndyCar - The 106th Indianapolis 500 Practice - Source: Getty

2024 was a tough year for Graham Rahal who drives for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, a team co-owned by his father. The 17th-year IndyCar veteran finished 18th in the championship standings, his lowest since 19th in 2014. From 2015 to 2021, he consistently finished in the Top 10 before witnessing a spiral from 2022 onwards - 11th in 2022, 15th in 2023, and 18th in 2024.

Rahal's last two of six IndyCar victories came consecutively at the Detroit Grand Prix double-header in 2017. In the 126 races since then, he has been winless and credits it to bad luck. However, he hasn't failed to acknowledge RLL's progress since their last IndyCar victory in 2019.

In October last year, a month after the 2024 season concluded, Rahal said (via IndyCar):

"I do think what people fail to mention about our team is the direction is correct. Things are getting better. People fail to remember that our team has taken a big step forward. They want to knock us and kick us when we’re down, but we never get the praise that we deserve when you look at how much better we have gotten in many regards. We are improving in many ways, and I think we could use another really good offseason."

In 2025, the 36-year-old will continue to pilot the No. 15 RLL Honda and will be joined by newly signed rookie teammate and Indy NXT champion Louis Foster.