VeeKay enjoying pleasant surprises at Dale Coyne Racing

Rinus VeeKay wasn’t sure of where his career was headed after the unanticipated move from Ed Carpenter’s midfield team to the smallest operation in the IndyCar Series with Dale Coyne Racing.

He was happy to find a new job, but both of Coyne’s entries placed at the bottom of last year’s championship standings, and with a bevy of offseason personnel changes as well, the young Dutchman signed to drive with no real understanding of what to expect at a team coming off its worst season in decades.

“Small means surprises,” VeeKay told RACER after turning his fifth-place start into a fourth-place finish on Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park.

“We had an incredible time. Great qualifying yesterday, Fast Six appearance, first one since 2023; that’s pretty awesome. I think coming to the race, you’re racing heavy hitters there with us not having the greatest experience racing out front.

“I think we did a great, great job on strategy, stayed out maybe a few laps too long on the first pit sequence, which made me think about staying out very long that’s on the second pit sequence, save a bit of fuel and really get some quick lap times when everybody pitted.

“And I came out right in front of Will Power and had a good battle to keep him behind, and then drove off into the distance with the Dale Coyne Racing car, which was incredible.”

VeeKay met his race engineer, the veteran Ed Nathmann who was returning to IndyCar after a long period away, just two weeks prior to the first race of the season. They’d go on to qualify inside the Firestone Fast 12 and finish ninth at St. Petersburg, which gave the first glimpse of their potential.

The next races at Thermal and Long Beach were decent with finishes of 17th and 19th, respectively, and with another top 10 this weekend – more accurately, a top five – VeeKay and the No. 18 Honda are 12th in the championship.

One of the keys to the highlight performances has come from within the 24-year-old who is finding his voice as a leader.

“I met my race engineer on setup day in Sebring,” he said of the final pre-season test. “The chemistry, though, is coming together very quickly. And I’m starting to get more comfortable at really having a stronger voice in the team, pushing through what I really want. And that’s what I did this weekend, and it was great.

“The thing I like so much about this team is they allow me to be a leader and they allow me to really have a strong opinion and follow what I say, just like in the race.

“On the second stint, I told them, ‘Let’s stay out, go long.’ That’s what we did, and then it was a good call for us. So I have zero doubts that they’re supporting me, and I support them, and that’s the chemistry you need.”

The best surprise of the early season heads to the Indianapolis road course where VeeKay thrives and rolls right into the Indy 500 where he’s always among the fastest drivers in the field.

“Coming to the Indy road course, what works in Barber works pretty well there,” he said. “So I’m totally not worried about that. I think we’re gonna have a great time; love that track. Got my first ever podium, first ever pole, first ever win, first ever top five on that track.

“I feel like this new chapter here for me allows me to just do so much and have so much confidence and fun. Also with Honda coming into the month of Ma with a lot of new stuff. So far, it has been a very, very warm welcome. And also today, I’ve got to thank Honda for for the great drivability, which I was always curious about before (with Chevy), how it felt, and how I got a real taste of it today.”