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Why 2020 offers a second-generation racer his best Indy 500 shot

Al Unser Jr managed to emulate his father by winning the Indianapolis 500 in 1992. Michael Andretti came close several times, but never did. Now could be the best chance yet for another son of a previous Indy 500 winner to join that exclusive club

One of the most refreshing sights of the 2020 IndyCar Series season - barring the star performances of this year's impressive rookie crop - has been that of Rahal Letterman Lanigan fulfilling its inherent promise. The team co-owned by three-time IndyCar champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, David Letterman and Mike Lanigan has been a puzzling entity in recent years, generating more questions than answers.

For example, how come a squad that's been full of talented engineers for several seasons and runs two fast and proven race winners isn't a more consistent threat to IndyCar's so-called Big Three? Why was the team a bigger championship threat when it ran just one car for Graham Rahal in 2015 than when it expanded to two entries? And how come Rahal Jr has been a more dependable performer over the last two seasons than his team-mate Takuma Sato, yet the latter has scored the team's three most recent victories?

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