Why Rinus VeeKay believes there’s extra to come back after Toronto podium

One may say it was solely a matter of time earlier than Rinus VeeKay and Dale Coyne Racing broke by to the rostrum within the 2025 IndyCar season. The Dutch driver signed with DCR to drive the No. 18 Honda simply a few weeks earlier than the season opener in St. Petersburg, and kicked off the yr with a top-10 end, crossing the checkered flag in ninth.

He backed that up by reaching the Quick Six and ending fourth at Barber, on his strategy to accumulating six top-10 finishes within the first 12 races of the season.

Regardless of some sturdy performances from VeeKay and DCR, there have been two key parts that helped clarify their run to second place final Sunday on the streets of Toronto. The primary: VeeKay’s ninth-place beginning place — his finest grid spot after a stretch of 5 races the place 18th had been his finest qualifying outcome. The opposite key issue was making a two-stop technique work, beginning with a 13-lap stint on alternate tires. A warning brought on by Scott McLaughlin’s misplaced wheel on Lap 3 proved decisive.

“We’ve been shifting ahead each race within the final six races. However we’ve been beginning within the again,” VeeKay mentioned. “It was necessary for us to qualify nicely, and we certified ninth. We did a little bit of a special technique than others. Within the loopy race it was as we speak, it turned out to be the fitting name.”

“The yellow undoubtedly helped. That was type of our technique. There was a very excessive likelihood of a Flip 1, Lap 1 yellow previously eight years. It was a reasonably lengthy one — and that was good for us.”

“I actually tried to child the alternate tires from the beginning — be light with them, keep away from wheelspin. I anticipated the fronts to go off quite a bit, however ultimately it was truly the rears that degraded. It felt like I used to be driving on simply the axles on the again. It was robust — I don’t suppose we may’ve stretched it one other lap.”

A “maximized” alternative

VeeKay made his last cease on the finish of Lap 57, whereas Pato O’Ward stayed out an additional lap and made the overcut work. The Dutchman defined why it performed out that means.

“I believe the group and I did all the things we may. Pato had solely carried out about 20 laps on that set of tires earlier than the ultimate cease, so he wanted much less gasoline and had a shorter cease. We have been ready to fill the tank, and that’s the place we misplaced time. Popping out of the pits, I believe he was two seconds forward. I closed the hole a bit whereas his tires have been coming as much as temperature. However ultimately, it’s laborious to remain shut and get a very good run.”

“I actually gave it all the things. I attempted to avoid wasting tires to possibly assault him in site visitors close to the top. However actually, that is all I may do. I maximized it, and the entire group did too. I believe everybody’s very comfortable. Everybody ought to be actually proud.”

Dale Coyne Racing made a serious engineering change in late Might, bringing again Michael Cannon to engineer VeeKay’s automotive, whereas Mike Colliver started working with rookie Jacob Abel within the second entry.

Since then, VeeKay has scored 4 top-10 finishes in seven races and at the moment sits eleventh within the championship, simply seven factors behind David Malukas and AJ Foyt Racing. It’s no shock that VeeKay is filled with reward for Cannon’s contribution.

“After the engineering overhaul, we actually began determining what we would have liked to do,” he mentioned. “Michael Cannon introduced a whole lot of expertise to the timing stand and the engineering truck. It’s paying off.”

Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren, Rinus Veekay, Dale Coyne Racing, Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing

Picture by: Gavin Baker / Lumen by way of Getty Photographs

“There’ve been just a few races this yr the place I’ve had one of the best automotive I’ve ever had in my IndyCar profession. It was a loopy offseason with all the things that occurred, however I believe it was an enormous step in my profession.”

“I’ve had a terrific yr to date with Dale Coyne Racing. In fact, with Michael Cannon becoming a member of — his expertise — I believe we’ve bought a very sturdy group. Matt Nelson, Michael Cannon, Dale Coyne — that entire technique group, collectively on the stand, they make it occur each time. No matter occurs within the race, we make the fitting choices.”

In that sense, VeeKay is adamant his podium in Toronto wasn’t a one-off, and he warns rivals to control him and Dale Coyne Racing within the last 4 races of the season.

“Laguna Seca is developing, and I believe the setup we had at Barber will work nicely there,” he mentioned, referring to subsequent weekend’s spherical.

“We’re at that time within the season the place we’ve discovered what we have to do. I believe we’re going to have some actually sturdy races developing.”