IndyCar series driver Graham Rahal has watched the Michigan and Ohio State rivalry his whole life. His father, Bobby Rahal, met former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr and came away with nothing but respect. That history made what Rahal said on Friday hit differently.

Rahal drives the No. 15 Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. He is one of the loudest Ohio State fans in motorsports. And he was in Detroit ahead of the Grand Prix when someone asked about Michigan.

“I will say I wasn’t a fan of the way Sherrone Moore handled himself,” Rahal said. "I wasn’t a big fan of his and I thought there was a lot of arrogance even amongst the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry."

Sherrone Moore was fired after the university found he had an inappropriate relationship with his executive assistant, per The Detroit News.

"I never felt that way about (Jim) Harbaugh. My dad (Bobby Rahal) met Lloyd Carr, and he had nothing but just amazing things to say about him, and you think while you hate each other, there always has to be that mutual respect, and it just felt like some of that was lost under Sherrone,” Rahal added.

Now, the University of Michigan football has a Kyle Whittingham as the head coach, who previously served as the head coach at Utah.

"Honestly, I really, I hate to say this, but I've always had a tremendous amount of respect for Kyle Whittingham," Rahal said. "When he was in Utah, he did a hell of a lot of good for a long time."

You don't often hear a passionate Ohio State fan hand out compliments regarding Ann Arbor.

Whittingham Was in Detroit To Ride in the Fastest Seat in Sports

The reason both men were in the same city was the Detroit Grand Prix. Whittingham was chosen to ride in the Fastest Seat in Sports on May 31, a two-seater that leads the field to the green flag before the race at 12:30 p.m.

“Let’s go!” Whittingham said, from the passenger seat. “I can’t really hear you, but this is a hell of a deal. Whoo-hoo!”

Other notable past riders in the Fastest Seat in Sports include Tom Brady, Jon Bon Jovi, Lady Gaga and Channing Tatum.

Whittingham is a sports enthusiast and has attended multiple Michigan hockey and basketball games in the past. The 66-year-old is a fan of riding motorcycles, skiing, tennis and golf.

What do you think about Rahal's comments on Sherrone Moore? Let us know in the comments.

Read more at the Michigan Football Community

Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore