Talking Audemars Piguet, Ducati Motorbikes, And Racing With IndyCar Driver Graham Rahal

Bryan Campbell: How’s life now that racing is back? How’s the switch from sim racing back to the real deal?

Graham Rahal: It’s good. I’m very, very, very happy the digital racing has come to a close. I’m not “old,” but I consider myself beyond the generation of die-hard gamers that there is nowadays. For me, I’m just glad that’s come to close, and we can do our thing and go back racing.
 

BC: What’s the atmosphere like at the track?

GR: There were a lot of people walking around for the first event. I must say I was a little surprised. I expected a ghost town, all things considered, but it’s good to see. It also feels a little off. Compared to the races we’ve done in the past and with the last two being held without fans, it’s a little weird.
 

GR: We’re in a sport that relies on fans to provide a lot of the atmosphere. When you have a good crowd with a lot of fans, it creates a great atmosphere to go racing. When you don’t have that, it certainly feels very, very different. The world is a little weird right now, but at the same time, we understand what the reasons are for that, and we’re just happy to be racing.
 

I’ve had a few other bikes over the years. Different versions of these bikes that I did put miles on. I had a Desmosedici that I loved and rode a lot. I had a previous version of the 1098S from new that I rode a ton as well. It really just came down to the current form of the collection: all no-mile bikes.
 

BC: Along with your Ducati collection, I hear you have a few timepieces as well, one being fairly difficult to come by, some might say.

GR: I have a few Audemars Piguets, but obviously, the Daytona stands out. In 2011, I won the Daytona 24 overall with Chip Ganassi Racing, so I got a stainless steel example that says “winner” on the back. Definitely a special watch. It’s never seen the light of day. It’s never been out of the box and never will be. I’d like to go back to Daytona and win a couple more and have one to wear. But to me, that is a very, very special watch.
 

GR: The last hour of that race is so nerve-racking, you’re just waiting for something to go wrong. You never know with that race. Just standing on the podium, and the release that came with that was unforgettable. But that year we won, it was so silky smooth. We had no issues at all.
 

GR: In fact, my teammate in the other car that year was Juan Pablo Montoya. And when I was talking to Juan a couple of months back, I thanked him again, because, in that race, Juan took out all of our competition. He banged wheels so much on restarts that he literally took out all of our competition. In the end, we were just cruising around. It was just one of those dream-scenarios.
 

BC: Do you have a daily wear watch?

GR: The Audemars Piguet Carbon was my first. I always dreamed of having an AP, and when I signed on to drive for my dad’s team back in 2012, I happened to be at an AP sponsor event and said, ”You know what, I’m going to do it,“ and bought the Carbon. I was hooked. I wear the Carbon every single day. I’ve worn that watch, abused that watch, and it keeps on ticking, so I have nothing but the greatest respect for the company. And that led me down that path, so I have four or five now.
 

(Ducati photography by Christopher Owens, Watchonista photography by Liam O'Donnell)