Rinus VeeKay believes his fourth-place end at World Broad Know-how Raceway confirmed the extent Juncos Hollinger Racing was able to reaching earlier this season at Phoenix.
The Dutch driver delivered his greatest results of the 2026 IndyCar season, climbing from thirteenth on the grid to complete fourth.
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Whereas happy with the progress proven by the group, VeeKay was left questioning what may need been after falling simply in need of a podium end.
Picture by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs
Rinus VeeKay says WWTR efficiency mirrored missed Phoenix alternative
VeeKay and Juncos Hollinger Racing turned in considered one of their strongest performances since becoming a member of forces, with the No. 76 Chevrolet spending the closing phases battling close to the entrance of the sector.
The end result marked the group’s greatest end since Conor Daly’s podium at Milwaukee in 2024 and bolstered VeeKay’s perception that related outcomes have been potential a lot earlier within the season.
Reflecting on the efficiency, VeeKay drew comparisons to Phoenix Raceway, the place contact with Alex Palou ended what he felt might have been one other aggressive outing.
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“You already know, that is how we must always have raced in Phoenix… Sadly, we did not get to do this. Simply actually blissful to indicate that tempo, that energy for such a younger and small group now. We’re beating the massive boys proper now.”
The remark underlined VeeKay’s rising confidence in each himself and the Juncos Hollinger Racing operation as they proceed to ascertain themselves towards IndyCar’s bigger organizations.
Season-best end result nonetheless leaves VeeKay wanting extra
Regardless of securing his greatest end of the 12 months, VeeKay admitted there was some frustration after spending a lot of the night in rivalry for a podium.
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Robust pit work and technique helped cycle him into the highest 5 with 57 laps remaining, inserting him inside putting distance of Christian Rasmussen, Marcus Ericsson and eventual winner Josef Newgarden.
Nonetheless, VeeKay felt understeer late within the race prevented him from mounting a severe problem for third place.
“We had night time… We had good tempo, and we moved by way of visitors. Did not have a whole lot of fortunate breaks to begin the race, so type of cycled again on a regular basis, and the previous couple of stops we hit the appropriate factor. We did an important job as a group. JHR Chevy was superb.
“Only a bit an excessive amount of understeer on the finish there, being aspect by aspect with Christian (Rasmussen). Could not get it performed. Being a race automobile driver, you are bummed with fourth place, since you go residence considerably empty handed. However nonetheless, actually, actually good job by the group.”
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Though the end result left him narrowly outdoors the rostrum positions, VeeKay’s efficiency supplied one other signal that each driver and group are shifting in the appropriate route heading into the rest of the season.
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