Rinus VeeKay Clinches Podium for Dale Coyne Racing at Indy Toronto
Toronto, Canada — Rinus VeeKay delivered a standout performance at the 2025 Indy Toronto, securing a second-place finish for Dale Coyne Racing, marking a significant milestone for the team. Starting from ninth on the grid, VeeKay’s strategic execution and race management proved pivotal amid a challenging street course environment.
In the first half of the race, a critical early caution on Lap 3, prompted by Scott McLaughlin’s incident, allowed VeeKay to implement a two-stop strategy, starting with a 13-lap run on alternate tires. This decision was influenced by recent advancements in team engineering, particularly following the return of veteran engineer Michael Cannon.
VeeKay reflected on the importance of qualifying well, stating, "We’ve been starting in the back, so it was crucial for us to qualify ninth.” The strategy proved advantageous, allowing him to navigate the front of the pack as conditions fluctuated.
Despite attempting to close the gap on leader Pato O’Ward, who executed a successful overcut by pitting one lap later, VeeKay noted, “We lost time during our fuel fill, which meant coming out of the pits, I was already two seconds behind.” He managed to add pressure to O’Ward during the closing laps but ultimately could not secure the lead.
The consistency in VeeKay’s performance was evident; he has now notched four top-10 finishes in the last seven races, positioning him 11th in the championship standings, just seven points shy of rival David Malukas. VeeKay emphasized the improved dynamics within Dale Coyne Racing, highlighting Cannon’s contributions: “His experience really helped us figure out what we needed to do. It’s paying off.”
As the series heads into the next race at Laguna Seca, VeeKay remains optimistic about extending his momentum. “The setup we had at Barber should translate well to Laguna. We’re figuring out what works best for us, and I expect strong results in the remaining races,” he asserted.
Dale Coyne Racing’s notable advancement under VeeKay’s leadership suggests a promising trajectory as the season progresses. Teams and fans should keep a close watch as the final four races unfold.
