Nashville Superspeedway will host the conclusion of Rinus VeeKay’s 2025 IndyCar season, where the Dutch driver hopes to finish among the top 10 in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship standings for the first time. After a tumultuous off-season, VeeKay’s progress has become a significant storyline, highlighting his growth and resilience this year.
From Late Signing to Championship Contender
Following his release from Ed Carpenter Racing last season, VeeKay’s future in IndyCar seemed uncertain. However, just days before the 2025 campaign began, he secured a seat with Dale Coyne Racing (DCR), piloting the No. 18 Honda entry. Despite initial modest expectations of four to five top 10 finishes and a top 16 season ranking, VeeKay exceeded these goals by June, demonstrating a steady rise in performance and consistency.
His breakthrough moment arrived on the Streets of Toronto, where he achieved his fifth career podium and second-place finish—a performance made more special by the presence of his wife, Carmen. This marked his first podium since 2022 at Barber Motorsports Park.
Experience and Team Cohesion Driving Performance
At 24 years old, VeeKay has matched his career-best total of seven top 10 finishes with four races still remaining in the season. He attributes much of this advancement to accumulated experience and stronger team collaboration.
You’re in IndyCar, so everything is possible,
VeeKay said.
But you still have to be realistic, and realistically I didn’t think we would have had a year like this.
The first thing is my experience,
VeeKay explained.
It started to click halfway through the last season with ECR. I really started to understand the game there. Right now, with Dale Coyne Racing, the meetings we have outside of the track, the connection I have with my team and doing strategy, we make a plan together as a team and I know exactly what I need to do in the car to make a strategy work at this point. It’s a lot of transparency within the team that allows me to make stuff work just by knowing exactly what to do at each time.
This clarity and openness in team strategy have reinforced VeeKay’s confidence, giving him a clearer path to executing race plans effectively.
Adopting a Championship Mentality Inspired by Racing Greats
VeeKay now approaches races with a strategic mindset akin to legends like six-time series champion Scott Dixon and Alex Palou. His focus on avoiding trouble, conserving resources, and maximizing performance mirrors their championship-caliber racing styles.
It’s weird to say about myself, but kind of feel like I could do Dixon stuff at this point,
he remarked.
But I feel like I’ve started to really drive in a championship mindset – like a Dixon, like an Alex Palou – with staying out of trouble and maximizing everything, and then using the Honda fuel mileage to get two stops and keep showing up at the front.
Impact of Veteran Engineer Michael Cannon’s Return
A major contributor to VeeKay’s improvement has been the return of veteran race engineer Michael Cannon to Dale Coyne Racing. Cannon, who has previous experience at DCR and stints with AJ Foyt Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing, rejoined the team in May and has since occupied VeeKay’s timing stand.
He brought consistency to the team,
VeeKay noted.
We had numerous times before he showed up where we rolled off the truck and we were far out of the window. We took big swings and got a bit lucky.
Cannon’s deep knowledge of the current Dallara DW12 chassis has established a reliable baseline setup for the car, minimizing the need for extensive adjustments. Beyond setup expertise, his calm and steady communication style over the radio provides VeeKay with mental stability during races.
The way his language is working together with a lot of people, it is really calm,
VeeKay shared.
Whatever happens, if we’re leading the race or last, it doesn’t matter, he talks on the radio in the same tone. It’s funny, but it keeps me really stable in the car.
Benefits of Switching to Honda Powertrain
Signing with Dale Coyne Racing also introduced VeeKay to Honda’s engine, a change from his previous experience with Chevrolet powerplants. The difference in drivability, particularly on technical street circuits, has been notable and advantageous.
The engine has been really good, especially on street courses where the drivability has been awesome,
said VeeKay, who was crowned INDYCAR Rookie of the Year in 2020.
It’s something that, all my experience before Dale Coyne Racing has been with Chevy, and you’re always like, ‘Ah, the Hondas look so easy to drive on street courses,’ and wondering what it’s like. And it does make a difference. It doesn’t make it easy, but it makes it a bit more consistent to drive.
The improved fuel efficiency of Honda’s engine has allowed DCR to employ innovative two-stop race strategies, yielding both competitive pace and tactical flexibility.
And then the biggest thing for me is the mileage, just the fuel mileage. We’ve done a lot of two-stoppers. We’ve done a lot of creative stuff that would not be possible without the fuel mileage we’re getting. What we did in Toronto was basically a product of the Honda fuel mileage, going for a two-stop and still keeping the pace up.
Challenges Await at Music City Grand Prix Finale
The season finale will take place on the 1.33-mile D-shaped oval at Nashville Superspeedway, known for its 14 degrees of banking and being the only concrete track on the IndyCar schedule. The unique surface and high speeds above 200 mph create distinct challenges for drivers and crews alike.
Instead of (tire) marbles, it’s kind of like a fine powder coming off the tires,
VeeKay said.
You don’t see the marbles but they’re there. It’s kind of like dust, so that gets really tricky in the race. I have to say, the racing was incredible last year. We were going side-by-side for a long time, people were moving and it was a fun race. For me last year, we were really quick but every time I pitted the yellow came out afterwards, so I went a lap down every time; that was pretty hard. We did that three times, and every stop it went yellow right when I got out of pit lane.
Despite those setbacks in last year’s Music City Grand Prix, VeeKay managed to finish 12th and looks forward to improving on that result this time around.
Aiming for Top 10 and Continued Success with Dale Coyne Racing
VeeKay’s ambitious goal for the end of the season is clear: break into the top 10 in the championship. Achieving this would not only mark a personal best but also be the highest finish for Dale Coyne Racing since Sebastien Bourdais secured seventh place in 2018.
I want to be top 10 in the championship.
With Michael Cannon’s experience guiding the team and a strengthened lineup, VeeKay feels this target is attainable. He believes a victory at the Music City Grand Prix could be the key to sealing a strong season finish.
Oh yes, I think it is,
VeeKay stated confidently.
We have a shot. With Michael Cannon right now, he brings so much experience that we have stuff we can rely on. We aim to have a really good season finale.
Rinus VeeKay’s 2025 campaign has transformed from uncertainty into a story of calculated progress, solid teamwork, and growing maturity behind the wheel. As the season concludes at Nashville, all eyes will be on the Dutch driver’s pursuit of a breakthrough top 10 championship finish that would signify his arrival among IndyCar’s elite competitors.
