The team RLL received an uninvited visit from the FBI on Wednesday morning – The BMW works team has an IMSA race this weekend
Nasty surprise ahead of the “Battle of the Bricks” in Indianapolis: The headquarters of the BMW works team Rahal Letterman Langian Racing (RLL) was searched by an FBI unit. Employees were reportedly instructed to leave their computers and other electronic devices behind.
The team only moved into the headquarters in Zionsville, Indiana, at the beginning of 2023, and it houses both the IndyCar and IMSA arms of the team. The reasons for the raid are currently unclear, and the FBI has not provided any further information.
The local police were also involved in the operation. “The FBI asked us for help with an arrest warrant at the headquarters [of RLL]. Our officers remained outside as the FBI agents entered the building,” John Stehr, mayor of Zionsville, told the Indy Star.
RLL released a brief statement saying, ”We are fully cooperating with the investigators. As this is an ongoing investigation, we are only able to release limited information at this time, but we intend to provide more information as soon as possible.”
The team is owned by three-time IndyCar champion Bobby Rahal, former TV presenter David Letterman and businessman Mike Lanigan. Rahal founded the racing team together with Carl Hogan back in 1992, when Hogan was still an active driver, and won the title with the now 71-year-old at the first attempt.
Hogan left the team in 1996, and Letterman joined in 2004. Lanigan has been a partner in the racing team since 2011. In addition to its ongoing IndyCar involvement, the team has been competing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship and its predecessors as the BMW works team since 2009.
According to rumors, Andretti’s headquarters were also searched in August. The issue was inconsistencies in IP addresses.