Rinus VeeKay wasn’t anticipating to seek out himself with out a job within the NTT IndyCar Sequence, however the younger Dutchman is surprisingly upbeat after Ed Carpenter Racing selected to switch the five-year veteran with 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi in late September.
“I’m doing nicely,” VeeKay informed RACER. “The primary week was a bit robust to digest. You understand, it was a bit surprising, simply the entire state of affairs happening. However I’m all the time a constructive particular person. After a couple of days, it was simply me trying ahead to the long run. And naturally, Adrian (Sussman, his supervisor) has been calling all people to ensure we have a look at each doable alternative. And I’m constructive concerning the future; I’m not nervous in any respect.
“It takes a little bit of onerous work. It’s a state of affairs I’ve by no means been in. However with me proper now, being 24 years previous, having executed 80 races in IndyCar, I believe that’s fairly helpful, particularly with my Indy 500 report. I believe the groups that that may have a possibility know I’m not a paying a driver, so I’m very assured concerning the potentialities.”
The winner of the 2021 Grand Prix at Indianapolis is inspired by the discussions being held with potential groups. He stayed over in Indianapolis after this week’s assembly between IndyCar and its drivers to attend the Thursday-Friday check at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The choice was helpful, as Dale Coyne Racing will put him in its automotive on Friday.
“There’s been lots of shared pursuits,” VeeKay mentioned. “There’s some fairly good talks. And I believe we’re trying fairly good, actually.”
Including in some IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship occasions to his subsequent racing calendar can be a welcome choice, however VeeKay is primarily centered on getting again to open-wheel competitors.
“It’s now head all the way down to IndyCar,” he mentioned. “I’m open to doing one thing like IMSA, however my major curiosity is to do a full season of IndyCar. And I really feel like IndyCar is a kind of sequence the place, should you’re out for season, you want no less than a season to catch again up with it being that aggressive. So I wish to be in there full-time. I must be in there full-time.”
This story has been up to date to incorporate VeeKay’s scheduled check with Dale Coyne Racing.
