INDIANAPOLIS – Life is becoming a whirlwind for 20-year-old Rinus VeeKay as the second-year driver prepares to start on the front row of the 105th Indianapolis 500.
It all began for VeeKay at last year’s Indy 500, when the then-19-year-old from The Netherlands became the fastest teenager in the history of the race with a four-lap qualification average of 230.704 mph in the No. 21 Sonax Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing.
That was good enough to start fourth in the race that was held on Aug. 23.
This year, the Month of May has been even better for the likeable Dutchman. He won the May 15 GMR Grand Prix at the IMS road course to score his first-ever NTT IndyCar Series win.
On Sunday, he completed a four-lap average of 231.511 mph in the No. 21 Bitcoin Chevrolet for ECR and will start on the outside of row one alongside pole winner Scott Dixon and second-fastest qualifier Colton Herta.
“I was the fastest teenager in 500 history last year, now I’m the youngest on the front row,” VeeKay quipped. “That’s pretty cool, yeah. I have to watch out for gray hairs next year. As long as I look like Dixon in 20 years, that’s all right.”
Consider that VeeKay was in diapers when Dixon began his IndyCar racing career in CART in 2001. But VeeKay’s memories of the Indy 500 predate him.
“My first memory of the Indy 500 was probably my dad showing a video of Arie Luyendyk winning the race in 1990,” VeeKay recalled. “I was hooked to racing as long as I can remember. I had two big fans, Arie Luyendyk and Ayrton Senna. I think they were the best in the business in two different categories.
“When I saw that, IndyCar was something you dream of when you’re a little kid. I’m living a dream right now.”
It is certainly a positive dream for VeeKay, who is becoming one of the most popular drivers at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this year.
Chants of “Rinus!!” and “VeeKay!!” can be heard whenever he climbs out of his Chevrolet race car and walks back to his garage in Gasoline Alley at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Along with 21-year-old Colton Herta and 22-year-old Pato O’Ward, VeeKay is connecting with a younger generation of race fans, something that Indy car racing desperately needs.
“It’s been pretty crazy,” VeeKay told SPEED SPORT. “So many fans asking for autographs and knowing who I am. That’s very cool. It’s cool to be out here for qualifying and have a good, competitive car, too. I feel like I haven’t been alive the last year. Now that the fans are back, it’s crazy.
“The crowd reaction was amazing. It’s getting pretty good now. Last week’s win (in the GMR Grand Prix) really helped. Also, our speed in qualifying here. The Bitcoin car also attracts some fans. The fans in the grandstand really enjoy it.
“It’s amazing. You really feel like a rock star, like an IndyCar driver now. Last week’s win really helped with the fan base. I think today, too. I just love that the fans are out here. I try to make as much time as possible for them.
“The walk from Gasoline Alley to the garages are quite long, but I enjoy every minute of every fan that comes to me.”
VeeKay has proven a quickly mastery the IMS road course, with his first top-five finish on July 4, his first pole and podium last October and his first victory two weeks ago.
Now, it’s time to master the high-speed oval in the 105th Indianapolis 500.
“It means a lot to me,” VeeKay told SPEED SPORT of running well at IMS. “I had a great car. Front row was my expectations. It was very close with Ed Carpenter. We have two amazing cars. I’m very happy and ready for next week. This run was the best run I’ve ever had. It’s the hardest I have pushed ever on this track. I’m extremely happy. The team, all the engineers, we have an amazing car. I’m very happy with the Chevy power, too.
“It’s really special. Really, really happy. The four laps I did was on the limit. I couldn’t have gone any faster really. I had a big moment in the last lap, first corner. Yeah, kept it on track, kept it flat. Very happy, very grateful for the team for all the sleepless nights, all the hard work. Definitely also big kudos to Chevy for giving me the great power to bring me to the front row.”
VeeKay continues to get advice from Arie Luyendyk, the two-time Indy 500 winner who is one of the race stewards in race control for IndyCar. Luyendyk mentioned something to the young driver from The Netherlands that stands out.
“Arie came to me after my run. He told me, ‘It took me five years to get to the front row. Once I started third, I won the race,’” VeeKay said. “Let’s hope I can do the same as Arie.”