VeeKay is ready for 2024
With the new NTT Indycar Series season approaching fast, it’s not hard to guess Rinus ‘VeeKay’ van Kalmthout’s feelings – the 23-year-old Dutchman is eager to get his fifth season going at pinnacle of American open-wheel racing.
Before traditionally kicking off the season on the streets of St Petersburg, Florida, a collective test session on the shortened Sebring circuit was scheduled for VeeKay and his fellow IndyCar driver. VeeKay will once again race for the Ed Carpenter Racing team in 2024 and unveiled his new livery shortly before concluding the two-day test. This year, the Fort Lauderdale-based Dutchman will be recognised by an eye-catching green-and-black livery.
The new livery has come about because of the agreement that ECR signed with askROI.com, an AI (artificial intelligence) extension for small and medium-sized businesses. askROI.com will be visible on VeeKay's #21 Chevrolet during several events on the NTT IndyCar Series calendar, including the season opener in St Petersburg and the famous Indianapolis 500. askROI.com is a company owned by businessman Todd Ault who for several years has been providing ECR’s cars with his logos through his various enterprises.
Dressed in green and black, VeeKay was allowed to take to the tarmac and concrete of the old-school track in Florida on Monday morning, immediately setting the pace. The talented 20-year-old showed he had lost none of his speed during the long winter break, as he recorded a promising second time overall, just shy of Andretti Honda driver Kyle Kirkwood. This feat allowed the Dutchman to call himself the fastest Chevrolet driver.
In the afternoon session, ECR decided to focus more on tuning their IndyCar machine. Lapping on new rubber proved challenging and as such, the superfast laps were lacking, but still VeeKay ended up well with a tenth time. The one-time IndyCar race winner will now hand over the wheel to new teammate, reigning Indy NXT champion Christian Rasmussen, for Tuesday’s test session (today).
“Finally I could take my seat in an IndyCar again,” said a happy VeeKay from Florida, who thusfar had only be allowed to drive a few laps on the Homestead-Miami oval in 2024. “The start was very strong. We recorded a second time in the morning session, conceding just a few hundredths to Kirkwood’s Andretti.”
“In the afternoon session we were busy finding a perfect balance on the new tyres. We haven’t quite found it yet, but we are happy with the work we have done. There were several duties to fulfil on our programme, which we completed successfully. A good test day, we got a lot out of it.”
VeeKay is eagerly awaiting next week’s season opener. “I feel good and ready for what will be my fifth season at the highest level in America. Today (Tuesday) I get to give Christian (Rasmussen) another hand with testing and after that we can focus on St. Pete one hundred per cent,” VeeKay concluded in fighting spirits.
