Dutch IndyCar driver Rinus VeeKay, also known as Rinus van Kalmthout, achieved an impressive fifth place in the first of two races in Iowa. This marks VeeKay’s best IndyCar result of 2024. He will have another opportunity to showcase his skills in the second race on Sunday.
During the qualification on Iowa’s short oval, Van Kalmthout secured the thirteenth starting position. The 250-lap race saw six neutralizations, but the Dutch driver kept his cool amidst the chaos. With the help of successful restarts, pit stops, and overtaking maneuvers, he skillfully climbed to fifth place.
“That was a good race,” a delighted Van Kalmthout reflected. “From the outside, it may not have looked like anything special, but it was exactly what we needed after recent setbacks.” The Dutch driver has had a challenging season in IndyCar so far, making this successful race a welcome change.
‘First race where everything fell into place’
Van Kalmthout explained that his main goal in Iowa was to avoid trouble and maintain his tires. “I succeeded,” the driver said. “This was the first race of 2024 where everything fell into place. I’m obviously very happy about that. Moreover, this is a double header, and we have another race at the Iowa Speedway on Sunday. After the first race, the drivers and teams who initially struggled will naturally have a better understanding of the strategy to follow. However, I believe we can continue our strong performance.”
The second race at the Iowa Speedway will start at 12:30 PM UST on Sunday.
