(This is the latest in a series of stories tracing the roots of Verizon IndyCar Series drivers through their own words. We look at where they grew up and what first sparked their interest in racing. Today’s subject: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver Graham Rahal.)

Graham Rahal, the son of three-time Indy car champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, recalls growing up at racetracks, as he told IndyCar.com writer Phillip B. Wilson. Graham was born in January 1989.

Wilson: What’s your earliest childhood memory? Where were you?

Rahal: My earliest memories were always at a racetrack. Those are what stood out to me the most.

Wilson: What did a young Graham like to do?

Rahal: For me, it was always Mid-Ohio. I loved going up to Mid-Ohio and taking my buddies up there. I still do. It’s my favorite time of the year because, for me, I go back and I used to terrorize Thunder Alley. I still am, in a very different way, but I still am. Those are some of my earliest memories. I would say a lot of my earliest memories were at the racetrack because that’s where I always enjoyed spending my time.

Wilson: You have a different band of friends that way?

Rahal: Yeah, for sure, without a doubt. Still, a lot of my buddies from those times, a bunch of them are …all still around and a part of it. You always have your home friends and your track friends. I was very lucky over the years that those kind of merged in many ways.

Wilson: Was it a great day when Dad won, or it didn’t matter what the result was?

Rahal: To be honest, I never paid attention.

Wilson: You were into your own thing?

Rahal: Pretty much.

Wilson: What else can you tell me about childhood?

Rahal: Other than going to the racetracks, it was normal.

Wilson: What did Mom (Debi) tell you?

Rahal: About what?

Wilson: Anything. About life, growing up.

Rahal: Mom was always the life of the party. She was always the fun one. Dad would come home and everything was very serious. When Mom was around, we just had a good time. Always.

Wilson: You get a lot of your personality from her?

Rahal: Yeah, a good amount of it. She’s a good time. I definitely take from her side in a lot of ways.

(Check out Rahal’s IndyCar.com biography. Also read previous "Racing Roots" entries on Marco Andretti, Sebastien Bourdais, Scott Dixon, Ed Carpenter, Josef Newgarden, Spencer Pigot, Carlos Munoz, Ed Jones, Simon Pagenaud, Will Power, Charlie Kimball, Alexander Rossi, Tony Kanaan and Ryan Hunter-Reay.)