Rinus Veekay impressed during qualifying at IndyCar’s Detroit Grand Prix on May 31, securing a P7 finish with an outstanding lap time of 1:00.7208. This strong performance marked a significant moment for the Dale Coyne Racing driver, who attributed his success largely to the expertise of veteran engineer Michael Cannon.
Although Veekay narrowly missed the Fast 6 cutoff initially, Graham Rahal edged him out by less than three-hundredths of a second to claim the sixth spot. However, Rahal faced a six-place grid penalty for unapproved engine changes at the Indy 500, a sanction that promoted Veekay to sixth on the starting grid. This stands as Veekay’s best starting position since he began fifth at the Children’s of Alabama Grand Prix.
Expert Engineering Boosts Veekay’s Qualifying Performance
After the qualifying session, Veekay praised Michael Cannon, who joined as the lead engineer for his No. 18 Honda starting at the Detroit GP. Cannon’s extensive IndyCar experience is well documented, having worked with prominent teams like AJ Foyt Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, Ed Carpenter Racing, and Andretti Global. Despite a brief stint with PREMA Racing before the 2025 season, Cannon’s impact on Veekay’s car setup was evident immediately.
“I’m feeling really happy. Car felt unreal out there. I could drive the car. The car wasn’t driving me this time. It’s really good. We’ve got the Albert Einstein of IndyCar right now on the car, so it’s been going really well. Definitely have to thank Ed Nathman, who engineered me to this point of the season. He’s done a great job, but you know, the experience that Michael Cannon has right now is insane,”
Veekay said during the live stream.
Practice Sessions Showed Mixed Results for Veekay
Veekay’s weekend began with promising speed, clocking the ninth-fastest time in opening practice. However, colder conditions emerged during the second practice session on Saturday, resulting in Veekay slipping to 16th place. Despite these setbacks, he delivered when it mattered most, converting his earlier pace into a solid qualifying result.
Marcus Ericsson Narrowly Misses Out Due to Veekay’s Late Surge
Rinus Veekay’s strong qualifying efforts ended the weekend on a high note but at the expense of Marcus Ericsson. Veekay’s final lap in Round 1 edged Ericsson out by only one-hundredth of a second, a narrow margin that prevented the Andretti Global driver from advancing. On a weekend where Andretti cars showed impressive speed, with Colton Herta taking pole position and Kyle Kirkwood securing third, it was clear Ericsson could have gone faster.
“It was a bit of a scruffy run,” Ericsson remarked. “I didn’t get a very good lap. Obviously, very frustrating being a hundredth of a second away from transferring. That is going to sting, but we can race from there tomorrow.”
Andretti Global led both practice sessions, highlighting their pace advantage with Kirkwood fastest in the first session and Herta topping the second. Veekay faces a tough challenge on race day, needing to clear both Andretti drivers as well as fend off the two Penske cars of Scott McLaughlin and Will Power, who will be looking to overtake early.
Implications of Veekay’s Qualifying for Detroit GP and Season Momentum
Veekay’s elevated starting position not only boosts his chances at the Detroit GP but also signals a potential turning point in his 2025 IndyCar season. So far, the 24-year-old veteran has produced three top ten finishes, including a strong P4 in Alabama. The combination of a well-engineered car and Veekay’s growing confidence positions him as a contender capable of challenging front-runners.
With the experienced Michael Cannon leading engineering efforts and a competitive Honda power unit beneath him, Veekay appears primed to convert his qualifying success into valuable race results. How he manages pressure from Andretti Global’s drivers and the Penske team will be decisive as the Detroit GP unfolds.
