The Federal Bureau of Investigation raided Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s IndyCar and IMSA headquarters just outside of Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Multiple reports emerged on Wednesday afternoon that an operation had begun and staff had been asked to step away from computers and electronic devices.
Motorsport outlet Racer alleges that the source of the investigation surrounds an employee who left Andretti Global for RLL, and intellectual property that may have been transferred. Andretti declined to comment according to Racer.
RLL issued a statement on Wednesday evening to multiple outlets. It read: “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.”
Local newspaper, the Indy Star, carried a quote from the mayor of the area the factory is located in, Zionsville, named John Stehr, who said: “The FBI asked us to assist this morning as they served a warrant at the (Rahal Letterman Lanigan) headquarters building.
“Our officers stayed outside as the FBI agents entered the building."
The team is owned by IndyCar champion and Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, legendary talk show host David Letterman, who was born in Indianapolis, and businessman and long-time IndyCar sponsor Mike Lanigan.
RLL's headquarters only opened ahead of the 2023 season. It was a huge undertaking with a factory over 100,000 square meters, and it houses three IndyCar programmes as well as the BMW-based IMSA sportscar teams as well.
