Rinus Veekay delivered an impressive performance at the 2025 IndyCar Toronto Grand Prix, finishing second and marking his first podium in three years at this event. Starting from the ninth position on the grid, Veekay steadily advanced on the challenging street circuit, taking advantage of incidents and cautions that unfolded throughout the 90-lap race. His team, Dale Coyne Racing, executed a flawless strategy that played a crucial role in this result.
Veekay emphasized the team‘s growing momentum throughout the season in his post-race comments with IndyCar on FOX, expressing a confident outlook on future races.
“Thank you all. It was a good day, it was a really good day. We have been moving all season, but we have been coming from the back. We qualified well with ninth for this race, and I knew we could move forward, and I mean, these guys and strategy, they know what they are doing. I mean the Honda fuel mileage makes it easier to hit that two stop. It was a pleasure driving this car, and I feel like this is one of many podiums coming with this team.”
—Rinus Veekay, Driver, Dale Coyne Racing
This podium also broke a notable drought for both Veekay and Dale Coyne Racing. Veekay had last been on the podium at the 2022 Alabama race, while the team’s most recent podium was secured by David Malukas during the 2023 season.
Veekay’s Recent Performances Show Mixed Results but Consistent Progress
Before the Toronto success, Veekay experienced a challenging weekend at Iowa Speedway during the back-to-back races held the previous week. Once again, starting from deep in the field, he demonstrated skill in moving up through the pack amid a series of caution periods. In the first Iowa race, which spanned 275 laps, Veekay began in 25th place but managed to climb to 16th by the finish.
Reflecting on that race, Veekay shared insights about a difficult qualifying session and the efforts to maximize race pace through strategy.
“Today has been interesting. We had decent balance in practice, but when we went into qualifying, it seemed to go away. We hit the wall and had to lift, which put us starting at the back. We made a swing going into the race and ended up in a decent spot. It was hard to pass, but we moved up the field with pit stops and, honestly, just having a mistake-free day.”
—Rinus Veekay, Driver, Dale Coyne Racing
The second Iowa race followed a similar pattern, with Veekay beginning in 26th and finishing in 12th. These performances underline Veekay’s resilience and adaptability as one of the standout drivers in the intense 2025 IndyCar season.
Outlook for the Remainder of the 2025 IndyCar Season
With 13 rounds completed and four races remaining, Rinus Veekay and Dale Coyne Racing seem poised to build on their recent achievements. His ability to advance through difficult starting positions and capitalize on race strategy places him among the key competitors to watch. The recent Toronto podium not only extends Veekay’s record but also signals potential continued success for the team as they aim to secure further top finishes before the season concludes.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What happened to Rinus VeeKay?
A. Rinus VeeKay had an accident on pit road during the 2025 Indianapolis 500.
In Indianapolis, his race ended early on Lap 80 due to a crash. The Dutch driver was attempting to slow down for his third pit stop when the incident happened.
Q. What is Rinus VeeKay’s real name?
A. Rinus van Kalmthout, born on September 11, 2000, is a racing driver from the Netherlands. He goes by the name Rinus VeeKay professionally. VeeKay races in the IndyCar Series, where he drives car number 18, a Dallara-Honda, for Dale Coyne Racing.