Rinus VeeKay and Dale Coyne Racing marked a turning point in the 2025 IndyCar season with their recent podium finish on the streets of Toronto, highlighting the Dutch driver’s upward momentum. After signing with Dale Coyne Racing to pilot the No. 18 Honda just weeks before the season started in St. Petersburg, VeeKay has steadily progressed, positioning himself as a strong contender moving forward.
Early Season Progression and Consistent Top-10 Finishes
VeeKay began the season with a solid ninth-place finish in St. Petersburg and quickly showcased his pace by making it into the Fast Six and securing fourth place at Barber. These efforts helped him amass six top-10 results in the first half of the season’s 12 races. Despite some setbacks in qualifying, his best starting position ahead of Toronto was ninth—significantly better than several previous races where he struggled to break into the top 18 on the grid.
This improved qualifying performance allowed VeeKay to execute a strategic two-stop race plan that ultimately propelled him to second place. Starting with a 13-lap run on alternate tires, VeeKay managed his tires carefully throughout the race. A timely caution on Lap 3, triggered by Scott McLaughlin’s lost wheel, played a critical role in shaping the final outcome.
“We’ve been moving forward every race in the last six races. But we’ve been starting in the back,”
VeeKay reflected.
“It was important for us to qualify well, and we qualified ninth. We did a bit of a different strategy than others. In the crazy race it was today, it turned out to be the right call.”
“The yellow definitely helped. That was kind of our strategy. There was a really high probability of a Turn 1, Lap 1 yellow in the past eight years. It was a pretty long one — and that was good for us.”
“I really tried to baby the alternate tires from the start — be gentle with them, avoid wheelspin. I expected the fronts to go off a lot, but in the end it was actually the rears that degraded. It felt like I was driving on just the axles at the back. It was tough — I don’t think we could’ve stretched it another lap.”
Strategic Pit Stops and Battle for the Lead
VeeKay made his second pit stop at the end of Lap 57, while Pato O’Ward extended his previous stint by one extra lap and successfully executed an overcut strategy. The Dutch driver explained the nuances of that battle, emphasizing how pit timing and tire life influenced the final moments of the race.
“I think the team and I did everything we could. Pato had only done about 20 laps on that set of tires before the final stop, so he needed less fuel and had a shorter stop. We were waiting to fill the tank, and that’s where we lost time. Coming out of the pits, I think he was two seconds ahead. I closed the gap a bit while his tires were coming up to temperature. But in the end, it’s hard to stay close and get a really good run.”
“I really gave it everything. I tried to save some tires to maybe attack him in traffic near the end. But honestly, this is all I could do. I maximized it, and the whole team did too. I think everyone’s very happy. Everyone should be really proud.”
Engineering Overhaul Spurs Team Performance
Dale Coyne Racing’s decision to bring back Michael Cannon as the lead engineer for VeeKay’s car in late May has correlated with an upswing in results. Cannon replaced Mike Colliver, who moved to work with rookie Jacob Abel. Since this engineering change, VeeKay has posted four top-10 finishes in seven events and climbed to 11th in the championship standings, trailing David Malukas and AJ Foyt Racing by only seven points.
“After the engineering overhaul, we really started figuring out what we needed to do,”
VeeKay said.
“Michael Cannon brought a lot of experience to the timing stand and the engineering truck. It’s paying off.”
The newly improved synergy between VeeKay, Cannon, Matt Nelson, and team owner Dale Coyne has created a strategic group that consistently makes strong race-day decisions. This collaborative approach has elevated the overall competitiveness of the No. 18 Honda entry this season.
Confidence Building on Past Success and Future Prospects
Reflecting on the challenges of the offseason and progress this year, VeeKay acknowledged his growth and the strength of his current team setup as reasons for optimism moving forward.
“There’ve been a few races this year where I’ve had the best car I’ve ever had in my IndyCar career. It was a crazy offseason with everything that happened, but I think it was a big step in my career.”
“I’ve had a great year so far with Dale Coyne Racing. Of course, with Michael Cannon joining — his experience — I think we’ve got a really strong team. Matt Nelson, Michael Cannon, Dale Coyne — that whole strategy group, together on the stand, they make it happen every time. Whatever happens in the race, we make the right decisions.”
VeeKay insists his podium finish in Toronto is not a one-time occurrence and warns competitors to watch closely as the season nears its conclusion. The upcoming race at Laguna Seca offers another opportunity for the team to capitalize on their momentum and setup improvements demonstrated at Barber.
“Laguna Seca is coming up, and I think the setup we had at Barber will work well there,”
he said.
“We’re at that point in the season where we’ve figured out what we need to do. I think we’re going to have some really strong races coming up.”
With just four races remaining in the championship, Rinus VeeKay and Dale Coyne Racing are positioned to showcase their resilience and strategic growth, aiming to add more podiums before the season concludes.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What happened to Rinus VeeKay?
A. Rinus VeeKay’s 2025 Indianapolis 500 ended with a crash on pit road. In Indianapolis, his race stopped on Lap 80 when he crashed. The Dutch driver struggled to slow down as he entered pit road for his third pit stop.
Q. What is Rinus VeeKay’s real name?
A. Rinus VeeKay, originally named Rinus van Kalmthout, was born on September 11, 2000, in Hoofddorp, Netherlands. He grew up in a racing-enthusiast family, which sparked his early interest in motorsport. From a young age, he showed great driving skills and talent.
Q. Where is Rinus VeeKay?
A. Since February 14, 2025, it was revealed that VeeKay will race full-time for Dale Coyne Racing. He will drive car number 18 in the 2025 season.
