Rinus VeeKay locks down IndyCar's last open seat

Rinus van Kalmthout’s patience and efforts behind the scenes have been rewarded: the 24-year-old Dutchman has locked in a sixth season in the IndyCar Series with Dale Coyne Racing. It’s been an uncertain few months for the man better known as Rinus VeeKay, after former employer Ed Carpenter Racing released the driver, signing Alexander Rossi in his place. After five years of service, VeeKay was, in his own words, “thrown in the garbage.”

Besides the manner, the timing also proved unfortunate. The news about van Kalmthout’s contract slipped out in late September, during the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix, and put pressure on the driver to find a new home because most IndyCar teams had already locked in their 2025 lineups by then. Juncos, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, and Dayle Coyne were, on paper, the only, remaining options.

After RLL completed it driver lineup and Juncos finalized deals with VeeKay’s former teammate Conor Daly and Sting Ray Robb, the only option left was Dale Coyne. VeeKay completed an oval test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, after which talks about the seat in the #18 car continued. With only a little more than two weeks before the IndyCar season opener in St. Petersburg, VeeKay’s contract with Dale Coyne was finalized. 

Different team, different engine

“I am very happy to be assured of a sixth season in this wonderful class. After an uncertain start to my winter break, I am grateful to be able to end it in this beautiful way,” VeeKay said. “The test with Coyne in November already gave me a lot of hope, but it’s wonderful to finally be able to say it. For me, it was immediately clear that I wanted to get in with Dale. He has been doing this for a very long time and has a good outlook. Besides, it felt like coming home. After the first laps I could communicate easily with both the engineers and the mechanics. For Dale to grant me this opportunity, I am sincerely very grateful for that.”

After five years driving a Chevrolet, Van Kalmthout will now compete for the first time with a Honda engine in America’s highest single-seater series.

“Driving with Coyne also means working with a different power source,” said VeeKay. “I obviously haven’t raced with Honda power before. From what I’ve experienced in recent years, the Honda engine has quite a bit of acceleration power, so I’m really looking forward to racing on street circuits. However, our oval test in Indianapolis also went pretty well. We are therefore eager to start the new season.”

VeeKay made his IndyCar debut in 2020 after finishing second in Indy Lights the previous year. The 2021 season brought his first (and so far, only) victory, on the road course at Indianapolis. At the famed Brickyard, van Kalmthout has managed to qualify on the front row three times. He also has two pole positions and four podium finishes to his name, with his highest championship finish being twelfth, twice — in 2021 and 2022.

That means he’ll be chasing   “I know Dale Coyne Racing is very motivated to come out strong this year. With Jacob [Abel], Dale has recruited a fast rookie who showed great things in the Indy NXT last year,” VeeKay said. Abel, the Indy NXT runner-up in 2024, will be Van Kalmthout’s teammate in the #51 car this year. “My goal, as a ‘young veteran,’ with 80 IndyCar races behind my name, is to make a maximum contribution to the path Coyne has taken. I feel we have met at the right time in our lives.”

Next week, VeeKay will participate in the IndyCar testing at the Sebring circuit with Dale Coyne Racing. The series’ season begins March 2 at St. Petersburg.