Rinus ‘VeeKay’ van Kalmthout delivered an impressive performance at the Barber Motorsports Park on Sunday. The Dutch driver from Dale Coyne Racing finished fourth in the IndyCar Grand Prix of Alabama, just three-tenths of a second behind Scott McLaughlin (P3). This is a remarkable achievement, especially considering the status of his team. Reigning champion Alex Palou took the victory.
Prior to the current IndyCar season, it was uncertain whether Rinus VeeKay would secure a spot on the grid. Ed Carpenter Racing had not offered him a new contract. At the last minute, he secured a seat with Dale Coyne Racing – currently not a big name in the American racing class. Therefore, a fourth place in Alabama is a fantastic result. For the Hoofddorp native, it’s his best race finish since the race at the Iowa Speedway in 2024. For Dale Coyne, this is the best result since 2023.
‘Second best race of my career’
While Rinus VeeKay’s father told FOX that this was ‘the best race of his career’, the 24-year-old driver himself considers it his second-best performance. “I’ve won once, so that takes precedence,” he responded with a smile. “It was a great race. I think we showed our strength in a surprisingly competitive car.”
Van Kalmthout managed to keep some big names behind him, including Will Power and Patricio O’Ward. He did this even after a failed pit stop. “I did lose some positions there,” Rinus VeeKay admitted. “But in the second stint, I had so much pace that I told the team: ‘Let’s take a risk and beat these guys’. We just managed to pull it off.”
