VeeKay Keeps Championship Hopes Alive With Indy Podium

May 14, 2018|

Team News

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (May 13, 2018) – During an up and down weekend, Dutchman Rinus VeeKay came away with a podium finish in the fifth round of the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Starting on the outside of row one for the first race of the weekend, the 17-year-old made a bold move around the outside of Oliver Askew to take the lead of the race. The rookie held the lead for the majority of the race on the 2.4-mile road course, despite multiple full-course caution periods bunching the field back up. Unfortunately for the Juncos Racing driver, a gearbox issue would slow him down and he had to settle for third at the line.

Starting the second race of the weekend from fifth place on the grid, VeeKay was set for another great race at the Racing Capital of the World. However, as the green flag fell, Harrison Scott and David Malukas made contact and with nowhere to go for VeeKay, he slammed into the back of Malukas, ending his day before the race had even begun.

Despite a disappointing end to the weekend, VeeKay remains in second place in the Pro Mazda Championship standings, 22 points adrift of championship leader Parker Thompson.

“The weekend started off fairly well with good speed in practice and qualifying,” said VeeKay. “We finally had the speed back – after the Barber weekend – and qualified second and fifth and was fairly close in both qualifying sessions. In Race 1, I took the lead on the first lap and finished third after we found some gearbox problems in the race. So, we knew Race 2 would be even better. Unfortunately, I had a crash due to things happening in front of me and couldn't get out. That put me out of the race but I’m still second in the championship standings, and we will keep moving forward from this.”

VeeKay and Juncos Racing next head to Lucas Oil Raceway in Brownsburg, Ind. OnMay 25for the Carb Night Classic.