While multiple other IndyCar teams have switched up their driver lineups for 2022, Ed Carpenter Racing is in the middle of a period of relative consistency.
The team will be bringing back their young Dutch driver Rinus VeeKay for a third season in the #21 entry, and has also hired Conor Daly to return for a full season in the #20.
It is not a given that a smaller team such as ECR can keep good driving talent from moving on to one of the large operations, and team owner Ed Carpenter explained in the lead-up to the season how much work it takes to keep hold of both valuable drivers and crew members.
Along those same lines, he also made sure to point out that he intends to do what he can to keep VeeKay with ECR as long as he can.
“I think some years there’s more movement than others,” said Carpenter. “Every team’s after talent, whether it’s behind the wheel or on the car, the engineering office.
“I don’t remember an off-season that’s gone by where I haven’t had to defend myself from within from someone wanting to get a driver, engineer, or mechanic. It’s the nature of the beast, what we do. You can’t prevent it.
“You just have to try to provide an environment and opportunity from within that makes them want to stay with Ed Carpenter Racing.
“I know Rinus enjoys his environment right now. It’s our job to make sure we’re providing him with opportunity to meet his goals that he has personally and professionally, give him a place where he can accomplish those. We both want the same thing.
“If we have a successful year, I think we’ll be positioned well to carry on. If he feels like he needs something else, he’ll be able to pursue that when he can. The goal is for him to be with Ed Carpenter Racing for a long time.”
VeeKay earned his first IndyCar win last season on the Indianapolis road course, and will get his next chance to fight for number two on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida on February 27.
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