MOORESVILLE, N.C. — As expected, Rinus VeeKay of Ed Carpenter Racing has been cleared to return to competition in the NTT IndyCar Series, beginning with this weekend’s Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Steam Corners, Ohio.
VeeKay suffered a broken clavicle from a bicycle crash while working out on June 14. He had surgery to repair the broken bone on June 15, but it kept him out of the REV Group Grand Prix at Road America on June 20.
“I was riding on a straight bike trail in Indiana, no cars, no motorcycles on fresh paved roads and an animal ran into my front wheel, causing it to go sideways and send me over the bike,” VeeKay told SPEED SPORT. “I never like to go face first, so I turned away from the fall and it hit my shoulder. I didn’t feel any pain, but I saw the bone was broken.
“I made myself slow, rolled onto my side and broke my collarbone. I’m smart enough not to hit the front brake.”
VeeKay was re-evaluated Wednesday and was given clearance to return to racing by Dr. Geoffrey Billows, IndyCar’s director of medical services. VeeKay will be back in the No. 21 SONAX Chevrolet at Mid-Ohio.
“First, I need to say thank you to the IndyCar medical staff, including Dr. Webber, who did my surgery,” said the 20-year-old VeeKay. “I am very excited to race this weekend at Mid-Ohio, especially after missing the last race at Road America. I am more motivated than ever,” VeeKay said. “I have been working incredibly hard on my recovery, doing all kinds of treatment. I feel I will be right back at the level I was before. I sat in the car earlier this week to make sure I was comfortable and I was in the simulator yesterday, I have no pain and feel as good as ever.”
VeeKay has six top-10 finishes in seven races, including his first career victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in mid-May.
While VeeKay was recovering from surgery, Oliver Askew stepped into the No. 21 Chevrolet at Road America. Despite not being able to compete, VeeKay remains sixth in the overall championship standings. A solid performance by Askew at Road America has Ed Carpenter Racing’s No. 21 Chevrolet fourth in entrant points.