Good news from the United States. Rinus ‘VeeKay’ van Kalmthout can also be admired in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES next season. The 24-year-old Dutchman has signed an agreement with the Dale Coyne Racing team.
“This year Dale Coyne Racing is working with two full-time drivers, as that stability gives us the opportunity to take steps forward as a team.”
Dale Coyne – Team Chief at Dale Coyne Racing
With already 80 IndyCar starts behind his name, VeeKay, despite his young age, is already one of the more experienced drivers in the field. When the Hoofddorper, who lives in Florida, was unexpectedly sidelined last fall, team owner Dale Coyne was quick to put the Dutchman in one of his cars during a test day. VeeKay impressed so much that Coyne offered him the role of front-runner.
Dale Coyne Racing is a household name in American open-wheel racing. Team owner and namesake Dale Coyne (70) founded the racing stable in 1984, initially to race himself. After several years, however, Coyne decided to focus on one task, whereupon he took a seat on the other side of the pit wall. Coyne recorded IndyCar victories in the past with Justin Wilson, Sébastien Bourdais and Mike Conway, among others.
After five years of racing with Chevrolet power, VeeKay is making the switch to Honda for 2025. In fact, Dale Coyne Racing has been associated with the Japanese marque since the 2008 IndyCar season. In the Coyne garage, VeeKay will meet American driver Jacob Abel. The 23-year-old Abel promotes as vice champion from out of the Indy NXT class, a path VeeKay himself took five years ago.
VeeKay will drive the car with start number 18, where teammate Abel will have the number 51 stuck on his car. The Dutch IndyCar rookie may soon get to work: a collective test session is scheduled next week on the Sebring (Florida) circuit, the first race of the new season will follow in two weeks on the street circuit in St. Petersburg (Florida). This year’s highlight, the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, is scheduled for Sunday, May 25, 2025.
As in previous years, the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season features seventeen races. These seventeen races will be completed at record pace: where the first showdown is scheduled for the opening weekend in March, the final round will be completed on the final weekend in August. Seven races will be completed on permanent tracks, six will take on an oval and four will see VeeKay and consorts race on a street course.
“Good news,” let a relieved VeeKay know from the United States. “This year, thanks to Dale Coyne Racing, I get to compete in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES races. I am very happy to be assured of a sixth season in this wonderful class. After an uncertain start to my winter break, I am grateful to be able to end it in this great way. The test with Coyne in November already gave me a lot of hope, but it is wonderful to finally be able to say it now.”
“The test at Indianapolis, in November, left both parties with a good feeling. For me, it was immediately clear that I wanted to get in with Dale. He has been doing this for a very long time and has a very good outlook. Besides, it felt like coming home. After the first laps I could communicate easily with both the engineers and the mechanics. For Dale to grant me this opportunity, I am sincerely very grateful for that”.
“I know Dale Coyne Racing is very motivated to come out strong this year. With Jacob, Dale has recruited a fast rookie who showed great things in the Indy NXT last year. My goal as a ‘young veteran’, with 80 IndyCar races behind my name, is to be able to make a maximum contribution to the path Coyne has taken: I feel we have hit each other at the right time in our lives.”
“Driving with Coyne also means working with a different power source: of course, I haven’t raced with Honda power before. From what I’ve experienced in recent years, the Honda engine has quite a bit of acceleration power, so I’m really looking forward to racing on street circuits. However, our oval test in Indianapolis also went pretty well. We are therefore eager to start the new season,” VeeKay concluded combatively.
“This year Dale Coyne Racing is working with two full-time drivers, as that stability gives us the opportunity to take steps forward as a team,” explained team chief Dale Coyne. “To achieve that growth, we have recruited an IndyCar veteran: his experience is one of the many reasons Rinus was asked to take a seat behind the wheel of the #18 Honda. We are eagerly looking forward to the start of the new season.”
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES can once again be followed live on Ziggo Sport channels this season, of course with the inspired commentary of René Hoogterp.
