Nobody notices Graham Rahal wheeling his luggage down 53rd street on his way to The Ed Sullivan Theater. The 20-or-so paparazzi outside The Late Show stage door don’t raise a single camera to Graham, even after a handful of racing fans emerge from a crowd for his autograph.
“Looks like they’re waiting for Uma,” a bystander says, referring to tonight’s marquee guest. Rahal just smiles and laughs. “I’d probably wait for her, too.”
The 19-year-old Rahal won’t be anonymous for long. Not after winning his IndyCar debut, at St. Petersburg on April 5, and becoming the youngest driver to win a major open-wheel race. And not after his chat with David Letterman. He’s known Dave since he was four, when his father, racing legend Bobby Rahal, first teamed up with Letterman to own a race team.
The show’s about to begin when one of the producers arrives to tell Graham what questions Dave might ask. He also rattles off some of the answers Graham gave in the pre-interview that morning. Lastly, he warns him to not try to be funny. Just be himself. Graham appreciates the advice, but really doesn’t need it. “The Late Show is on every night at my house,” he says. “But I don’t usually stay awake for all of it.”
The show starts and Graham laughs through the monologue and “Top Ten Things George Bush Would Ask The Pope.” Uma begins an awkward interview (she’s trying to be funny) as Graham is whisked off for make up. He returns in a few minutes looking at least a year younger. “They didn’t like my nose,” he says, pointing out a scar on the tip of his schnozz that he got when he was four. “I went over the handle bars. My first bike with front brakes.”
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