VeeKay ends up 15th following chaotic race at Milwaukee
Even though Rinus ‘VeeKay’ van Kalmthout was able to keep up with the top ten for a long time, the 24-year-old Dutchman crossed the finish line in 15th place at the Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250, having dropped down the order in the final stages as a result of a delay in the pitlane.
The 2025 NTT Indycar Series season is nearing its conclusion, with the championship having been decided – Alex Palou has secured the title – but the remaining positions in the final standings will be determined in the final two races of the year, a doubleheader consisting entirely of oval races. First, the drivers would race at the Milwaukee Mile, the historic short oval in West Allis, Wisconsin, before heading to the superspeedway at Nashville.
Rinus VeeKay conducted testing at the Milwaukee Mile earlier this year, so the Dutch driver at Dale Coyne Racing driving the #18 askROI.com Honda this year got off to a flying start in the first practice session at the Milwaukee Mile, thanks in part to the earlier testing and the right setup. The single IndyCar race winner recorded a respectable fourth time, followed up in qualifying with an 11th on the grid for the race. When the final practice session also produced happy faces, Coyne and VeeKay were ready to start the 250-lap race.
The 16th IndyCar race of 2025 started in the same vein as most of the previous 15, with VeeKay flying out of the blocks. The Dutchman shot past several rivals, quickly turning his 11th position on the grid into a ninth in the race. However, a late first pit stop proved costly, as many competitors opted for the undercut. As a result, VeeKay lost time compared to those having switched to fresh rubber.
Nevertheless, the Dutchman managed to claw his way back in the second stint of the race. After the setback of the first pit stop, VeeKay had fought his way back from 15th place to ninth for his second stop. The middle stint of the race was filled with spectacle – crashes, cautions and even a patch of rain caused several teams to opt for varying strategies.
Coyne and VeeKay seemed to have bet on the right horse, until the last pit stop unfortunately took just a little too long. One of the four tyres was not bolted on quickly enough, allowing a number of rivals to squeeze past the Dutch driver. For VeeKay, there was not much to do but consolidate his 15th place and bring the race to a conclusion without further damage. The race at the Milwaukee Mile was won by Christian Rasmussen.
“Actually, it was a pretty good day today,” VeeKay said from Milwaukee on Sunday evening. “We were comfortably in the top ten and I was able to match the pace of our direct rivals. Unfortunately, our plans took a big hit during the fifth and final pit stop, when we came in at the same time as a large group during a caution. Since I lost a lot of time there, a top-ten finish was no longer possible.”
“After that wonderful second place in the streets of Toronto at the end of July, we’ve been a little less fortunate in the subsequent races, but that’s part of the game. IndyCar is an incredibly competitive series – that was proven once again at this race at Milwaukee. A few seconds at the pit stop can easily make a difference of six positions on the track. I want to congratulate my former teammate Christian on his first victory.”
“It’s been a special season with Dale Coyne Racing and Honda, and the blue and white #18 askROI.com car. We will do everything we can to end this memorable year on a high note. This weekend, we get one more chance to go all out, and I know that the dedication of my engineer and the mechanics will not be an issue. Everyone is eager to give it their all one more time, so bring on Nashville!" VeeKay concluded.
The 2025 NTT IndyCar Series is almost over, with one last race remaining on the schedule. This Sunday, August 31, the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix will take place at the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennessee. The race will start around 8:20 p.m. Dutch time and can be followed live on Ziggo Sport.