SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Rinus Veekay is proving himself more and more to be a contender in the NTT IndyCar Series running with one of the smaller teams in the championship, and his stock appears to be rising after several good results.
Veekay has finished in the top ten in all four races thus far in the 2022 campaign, with a pole position start and a podium finish at Baber Motorsports Park in Alabama, on May 1st. He’s also led 75 race laps this season four races in compared to 71 laps led all season in 2021.
Sitting seventh in the points and trending in the right direction in his career, Veekay said he’s already getting courted by other race teams for a possible ride next year.
“There’s definitely been, after Barber, been lots of interest from other teams,” Veekay said. “It’s all about my future, so really the ‘silly season’ is starting super early this year.”
Veekay would not elaborate on who exactly has been reaching out with interest for his driving services next season. Right now, Veekay is still under contract for the rest of this season with Ed Carpenter Racing after signing a contract extension for a third year with the team at the end of the season last year.
“I would have preferred that it started after the 500, after the Month of May,” Veekay added on the interest from other teams. “Because we’re pretty busy driving and doing other important stuff during that month. But, it’s part of the sport and it’s happening right now.”
Veekay says he’s eager to get onto the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which he said he’s developed a good rhythm at over the last three seasons. He won the GMR Grand Prix last season, his first career win in the NTT IndyCar Series, and the first win on a road course for Ed Carpenter Racing.
“Having done so many laps there I can just do a perfect lap time in my mind,” he said.
Veekay feels he left a little bit on the track at Barber and left disappointed to the point he had trouble sleeping despite finishing third earning his first podium of the year. But, he says he’s motivated to improve upon that result and that the IMS road course is the perfect place to do that.
