VeeKay Surprises with Strong Qualifying Performance at Children’s of Alabama Grand Prix
Rinus VeeKay delivered a standout performance during qualifying for the Children’s of Alabama Grand Prix, securing fifth place in the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda. This impressive result positions him ahead of major competitors from Arrow McLaren, Andretti Global, and Team Penske, underscoring the team’s unexpected competitiveness.
"This is a little bit of a surprise, yes, but we believed we had pace this weekend," VeeKay stated in an interview with RACER. The driver attributed their performance to returning to proven setups from earlier testing and making strategic adjustments during practice.
Notably, VeeKay and Arrow McLaren’s Nolan Siegel, who qualified sixth, opted against using an additional set of Firestone’s red-banded alternate tires in earlier knockout rounds. VeeKay emphasized, “We saved, just like Nolan did, a set of reds in the Fast Six for use tomorrow. We should have more grip than the other guys around us.”
The success of Dale Coyne Racing is further bolstered by the recent addition of engineering specialist Mike Cicciarelli, previously with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. This enhancement to their engineering team has positively impacted team morale, as noted by VeeKay: “It’s great for Dale Coyne Racing; the morale is up for everybody. Just a big thanks to everybody involved.”
As the team looks ahead to the race, VeeKay’s confident demeanor and strategic approach could signal a promising outing in the highly competitive IndyCar Series.
