Juri Vips has one likelihood to make a closing impression on Bobby Rahal, David Letterman and Mike Lanigan.
The Estonian arrives in Portland, website of the primary half of his two-race NTT IndyCar Sequence debut for RLL in 2023, in a fourth entry for the group because it seems to lock in its substitute for the outgoing Christian Lundgaard.
With solely Graham Rahal signed for 2025, RLL is also available in the market for a second driver subsequent 12 months if it elects to maneuver on from newcomer Pietro Fittipaldi. For Vips, a powerful weekend on the 1.9-mile highway course might make the distinction in whether or not he’s chosen to assist lead the group in its subsequent chapter.
“Positively, loads of motion within the driving market in the mean time, and loads of very, very robust free brokers,” Vips informed RACER. “I believe this chance additionally couldn’t come at a greater time, as a result of hopefully I can remind everybody within the paddock that I can nonetheless drive and hold my title up within the checklist of individuals. I’m tremendous grateful for the chance, clearly, from Bobby, and simply need to get going already, as you’ll be able to think about.”
Vips impressed on his IndyCar debut in Portland and the next weekend in Monterey, and whereas he’s solely scheduled to compete in Oregon, observe familiarity — regardless of spending practically a 12 months out of an Indy automobile — and stable highway racing vehicles from RLL ought to enable the 24-year-old to offer a correct account of his capabilities.
“We’ve carried out loads of simulator runs by means of the 12 months,” he stated. “Sadly, they didn’t have Portland within the Honda sim, however to be sincere, I really feel far more ready than I did final 12 months. OK, I haven’t pushed all 12 months, however I already know the observe, so naturally in my thoughts, I’ve some references from final 12 months. And I’ve been by means of an IndyCar weekend now, so I understand how every part works and the way the rhythm of a weekend goes. It’s undoubtedly not simple. I miss the form of muscle reminiscence of driving the automobile, however I do really feel much more ready than final 12 months.”
Getting by means of Flip 1 on the primary lap and any restarts shall be key for Vips, who wants sufficient of the 110 laps on Sunday to make an announcement within the high-pressure audition.
“I’ll try to do the very same factor that I did final 12 months, and simply keep on the within, as a result of typically with gravity, should you do have a crash, it tends emigrate to the skin,” he stated. “Final 12 months wasn’t truly too messy into Flip 1. However I did handle to realize two spots from the within final 12 months. So I’m simply gonna try to do the very same factor — discover a hole there.
“If I do a very good job, I can struggle within the prime 10 and for the highest positions. It’s a very good feeling for a driver since you simply have to execute. that the automobile goes to be roughly within the window, so I’m simply going to maintain it easy and give attention to my driving.”
