The decision has been made: Rinus ‘Veekay’ van Kalmthout will continue to compete in the Indycar series until 2025. On Friday afternoon, confirmation came that he will be driving the number 18 car for Dale Coyne Racing this season. The 24-year-old Dutchman had already successfully tested for the team last autumn.
The seat at Dale Coyne Racing was the only one still available on the grid. Several drivers were interested, but the team chose Van Kalmthout as their lead driver this year. The driver from Hoofddorp, to everyone’s surprise – including his own – lost his seat at Ed Carpenter Racing after last season. When Van Kalmthout was subsequently allowed to step in for a test day at the Indianapolis circuit with Dale Coyne’s team, he made an impression. He also demonstrated his speed by securing third place.
“Good news,” says a relieved VeeKay from the United States, where he resides. He can’t wait for his sixth season in the Indycar to begin. “After an uncertain start to my winter break, I am grateful that I can end it in this beautiful way. The test with Coyne in November already gave me a lot of hope.”
He continues: “For me, it was immediately clear that I wanted to join Dale. He has been doing this for a long time and has a very good perspective on things. Moreover, it felt like coming home. After the first laps, I was able to easily communicate with both the engineers and the mechanics. I am very grateful to Dale for giving me this opportunity.”
Rinus ‘Veekay’ van Kalmthout’s Impressive Performance with Dale Coyne Racing
Rinus ‘Veekay’ van Kalmthout showcased his skills with Dale Coyne Racing during a test in Indianapolis last November. The Dutch driver made a significant impression on what has now become his new team.
Over the past five years, Van Kalmthout has participated in 80 Grand Prix races, making him one of the most experienced drivers in the 2025 lineup. Dale Coyne Racing is a well-established name in American open-wheel racing. Team owner and namesake, Dale Coyne (70), founded the racing stable in 1984, initially to race himself. After a few years, Coyne decided to focus on one task, subsequently taking his place on the other side of the pit wall. In the past, Coyne has achieved IndyCar victories with drivers such as Justin Wilson, Sébastien Bourdais, and Mike Conway.
Teammates and Transition to Honda
At the team, Veekay will be joined by American driver Jacob Abel. The 23-year-old Abel, as the runner-up from the Indy NXT class, is following the path that Veekay himself took five years ago. Veekay will be driving the car with starting number 18, while teammate Abel will have number 51 on his vehicle.
After racing with Chevrolet power for five years, Veekay’s transition to Dale Coyne Racing means he will now be driving with Honda. His new team has been associated with the Japanese brand since the 2008 IndyCar season.
Upcoming Races
The Dutch IndyCar contender will have to hit the ground running: a collective test session is scheduled at the Sebring circuit (Florida) next week, with the first race of the new season following two weeks later on the street circuit in St. Petersburg (Florida). The highlight of this year, the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, is scheduled for Sunday, May 25, 2025.
2025 Season Overview
Like previous years, the 2025 season will consist of seventeen races. These seventeen races will be completed at a record pace: the opening weekend is in March, with the final round in the last weekend of August. Seven races will take place on permanent circuits, six will be on an oval, and Veekay and his colleagues will race four times on a street circuit.
