The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted a dramatic raid on Rahal Letterman Lanigan (RLL) Racing’s IndyCar and IMSA headquarters near Indianapolis on Wednesday, sparking widespread speculation and concern within the motorsport community. Staff were reportedly ordered to step away from computers and electronic devices as FBI agents executed the operation, which unfolded in the team’s newly opened, state-of-the-art facility in Zionsville.
According to multiple reports, the investigation is believed to center around allegations involving an employee who transitioned from Andretti Global to RLL, with concerns that proprietary information may have been improperly transferred during the move. While Andretti Global has declined to comment on the situation, the implication of potential intellectual property theft has sent shockwaves through the racing industry.
RLL Racing, co-owned by former IndyCar champion Bobby Rahal, iconic television host David Letterman, and longtime businessman and racing sponsor Mike Lanigan, issued a brief statement late Wednesday acknowledging the FBI’s presence and their cooperation with the investigation:
“We are cooperating fully with investigators. Given that this is an ongoing investigation, we are limited in what information we can share right now, but we intend to provide additional information as soon as we can.”
The mayor of Zionsville, John Stehr, confirmed the FBI’s involvement and noted that local police assisted with the operation, maintaining security outside the premises while federal agents conducted their search inside.
The raid comes just a year after the opening of RLL’s expansive 100,000-square-meter facility, which houses three IndyCar teams and the BMW-affiliated IMSA sports car division. The timing and nature of the investigation have cast a shadow over the team’s recent growth and ambitions.
As the investigation unfolds, the broader implications for RLL Racing and its partners remain uncertain. The allegations of intellectual property theft, if proven true, could have severe repercussions not only for the individuals involved but also for the competitive integrity of the teams. The motorsport world will be closely watching as more details emerge about this high-stakes legal battle.
