Rinus VeeKay finished just off the podium in Sunday’s Grand Prix of Portland, giving him another strong run in a season already filled with them.
VeeKay started in fifth position, and held onto that position through the first portion of the race.
A quick pit stop from his crew late in the race boosted him past Kyle Kirkwood into fourth, and he held on despite finishing the race on used, hard compound tires.
The Dutchman earned his third top 5 finish in the past five races, and is now 10th in the points in what is his best season of his career.
“I’m really enjoying it,” VeeKay told FOX after the race. “Racing is fun when you’re performing well.
“It’s so tough. IndyCar is such a competitive sport, especially around a place like this where one or two tenths make a difference between starting 20th or into the Fast Six.
“Really incredible job by Juncos Hollinger Racing and the #76 crew for giving me the car I need to be quick and be comfortable out there. And of course giving me the pit stops and the strategy to not even stay with, but also pass other guys out there in front.
“We’re mixing it up out there. I feel like Kyle [Kirkwood] and I are basically going back and forth every race the last three. It’s a great sign.”
Juncos Hollinger Racing has never had one of its drivers finish inside the top 10 of the championship, with a 16th place result in 2023 the best it has accomplished.
The team has a real chance to better that this season with just five races remaining and momentum on VeeKay’s side.
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