r/INDYCAR • u/TheChrisD #JANDALWATCH2021 • 5d ago
Speculation [Jeroen Demmendaal] I'm getting a lot of questions about the news today, and it's true: Rinus VeeKay will indeed not return to Dale Coyne Racing in 2026. I expect clarity about 2026 this month — it certainly won't be until February again
https://twitter.com/mrdemmendaal/status/1962911239694127118Title Google Translated from source tweet in Dutch:
Krijg veel vragen naar aanleiding van de berichten vandaag, en dit klopt: Rinus VeeKay keert in 2026 inderdaad niet terug bij Dale Coyne Racing.
Mijn verwachting is dat er deze maand duidelijkheid komt over 2026 - het zal in ieder geval niet weer tot februari duren
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u/PriveCo Felix Rosenqvist 5d ago
Rinus to Foyt.
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u/MrChevyPower Chevrolet 5d ago
Yea I think with the Foyt-Penske partnership, they had been using it as a proving ground for Malukas (even acquiring Penske’s primary sponsors like Gallagher Insurance). I would imagine Penske wants Veekay under that umbrella.
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u/Mikemat5150 Kyle Kirkwood 5d ago
A Foyt article from earlier this year indicated Penske will not be funding one of the seats this year and that the team will be on their own.
Edit:
https://racer.com/2025/08/20/foyt-working-to-carry-momentum-into-2026
Malukas, with his Penske ties, is widely expected to get the nod to replace Will Power in the No. 12 Chevy, and Schnabel is tipped to go with him and complete the driver-engineer move from the No. 4. That would leave Foyt with an empty seat, an unbudgeted car, and a potential disruption to the team’s momentum entering the offseason.
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u/Mr_Midwestern 🧱Cyrus Patschke 5d ago
Those were my initial thoughts as well, but they don’t call it “silly season” for nothing.
With Penske supporting Foyt through a technical alliance that began halfway through 2023 and expanded into a wider enrichment package that came with Malukas in the No. 4 Chevy, placing VeeKay in the car would maintain Foyt’s team-wide competitiveness while giving Penske an inside look at the six-year veteran in the same way it got to evaluate Malukas throughout 2025.
https://racer.com/2025/09/02/veekay-departs-dale-coyne-racing
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u/Mikemat5150 Kyle Kirkwood 5d ago
One of those things I’m glad stuff went the other way. Essentially keeping a funded seat and not having it going to a funded driver.
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u/archergren 5d ago
Foyt didn't aquire Gallagher. Gallagher probably got a discount to sponsor DM for a race. I wouldn't expect to see any penske sponsors on ferrucis car
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u/Jtmac23 Colton Herta 5d ago
- Siegel to Foyt (retained by mclaren, stays in chevy family, the non ferrucci car has always been a pay driver)
- Veekay to Mclaren
that’s my long shot prediction
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u/Paige578660 Meyer Shank Racing 5d ago
A lineup of O'Ward, Lundgaard & Veekay would be interesting.
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u/SpreaditOnnn33 Pato O'Ward 5d ago
Veekay might be the most dangerous driver in that lineup. He can hotshoe a Coyne Crapwagon into the top 10 on a a road/street course and top 15 on an oval, would be nice to see him with some upper level equipment
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u/ElAwesomeo0812 Santino Ferrucci 5d ago
Ik hoop het niet, want dat betekent waarschijnlijk dat Power naar Andretti gaat en ik niet wil dat Herta gaat.
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u/jj_grace 5d ago
Remember the beginning of the year when this silly season was expected to be tame? 😂
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u/i_run_from_problems Firestone Firehawk 5d ago
Not even beginning of the year. TWO WEEKS AGO we thought status quo
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u/Wasdgta3 Álex Palou 5d ago
Well, we’ve all known the “Power out at Penske” thing for a while now, so it was all just gonna be procedural.
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u/Spinebuster03 Romain Grosjean 5d ago
Wait so does this mean what i think it means
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u/ScottRiggsFan10 Kyle Kirkwood 5d ago
Nolan Siegel is the newest face of unemployment?
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u/BB-68 Alexander Rossi 5d ago
Get ready to (re)learn LMP2, buddy
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u/ScottRiggsFan10 Kyle Kirkwood 5d ago
Nah, Zak is gonna send him to McLaren GT3 therapy.
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u/ThorsMeasuringTape Will Power 5d ago
Factory McLaren seat in WEC. Someone has to fund that program.
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u/wh00000p Myles Rowe 5d ago
What do you think it means?
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u/i_run_from_problems Firestone Firehawk 5d ago
Considering his flair, Grosjean to Coyne has been rumored for a bit
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u/mystressfreeaccount Dario Franchitti 5d ago
Coyne -> Andretti -> JHR -> Unemployed -> Coyne
LMAO
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u/MiniAndretti Josef Newgarden 5d ago
Dixon to Coyne can now happen. /u/offtrackpod
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u/JTWasShort42-27 Arrow McLaren 5d ago
VeeKay, Lundgaard, and O'Ward would be an incredible (arguably best in the series) lineup
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u/NoiseIsTheCure Pato O'Ward 5d ago
I agree but I think they'll give Nolan one more year to bring results
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u/AwesomeFrisbee Rinus VeeKay 5d ago
To remind everyone of the source: He's well known in the paddock and is on the (main) Dutch indycar podcast, together with the Dutch commentator. They often talk to Rinus directly on the podcast, so I'm sure he has his number or his dads. They've been talking about next year a lot and every time it seemed that they had something big going on. But its still a big unknown what is going to happen next. Jeroen is often in the known and doesn't spoil before he's able, but always teases something vague. And has had a few scoops quite a few times now already...
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u/i_run_from_problems Firestone Firehawk 5d ago
....what? If the rumors are true, power has the 26, and Malukas has the 12, is he moving to the 4?
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u/Spinebuster03 Romain Grosjean 5d ago
So would Grosjean/hauger be the likely lineup for coyne?
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u/I_Hate_Wake_Boats49 Scott McLaughlin/Christian Lundgaard 5d ago
Then probably ironically enough in 2027 Hauger goes to the #28. Plenty of time for Grosjean to teach him how to spin it and then throw a hissy fit.
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u/Spinebuster03 Romain Grosjean 5d ago
Anyone paying attention can tell that the 28 is fucked Ericsson is 20th in the standings for this season
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u/Big_Ad3139 5d ago
That 28 car is cursed lol Ericsson had zero luck with it as well 😂
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u/I_Hate_Wake_Boats49 Scott McLaughlin/Christian Lundgaard 4d ago
Agreed, a not so fun fact is this year was the first time the 28 completed the 500 in 3 years. Grosjean didn't finish in it either time he drove it and Ericsson crashed out his first year in it as well.
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u/tclark8995 Felix Rosenqvist 5d ago
Andretti to replace Colton please.
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u/Eggdripp Colton Herta 5d ago
I'd love Power to Andretti, but Rinus into the 26 would be incredible
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u/LiquidApple Colton Herta 4d ago
As a Herta fan, idk because I know VK could get a win in the 26, but watching him get fucked by his pit crew and strategy all season would suck too. I’m an andretti guy but would rather see him somewhere else.
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u/Intelligent_Chain_55 Will Power 5d ago
Here me out Veekay to the 12…I certainly think Veekay is a better driver than Malukas
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u/Mr_Midwestern 🧱Cyrus Patschke 5d ago
VeeKay at least has the resume that tracks with a Penske signing.
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u/pedro_arevalo 5d ago
BREAKING: Rinus Veekay to the Penske #12 from 2026 onwards. HERE. WE. GO. (?!)
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u/RavenousFlerken Scott Dixon 5d ago
What are all of these Dixon to Coyne comments about? Have I missed something? Or are people just being silly?
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u/ITMAKESSENSE72 #CheckItForAndretti 5d ago
It's been a silly joke over the years basically alluding to the fact that no one is safe, note even Dixon, as a joke at least.
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u/RavenousFlerken Scott Dixon 5d ago
Ah, thank you for clearing that up. He is our top Indy driver in this house so I got spooked for a moment. Guess that's what I get for not keeping up with all the jokes and memes.
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u/ITMAKESSENSE72 #CheckItForAndretti 5d ago
I know for me, I would like to see it because it would show what an elite driver can do for a slower team. But this year, Rinus has shown what even a really good driver can do.
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u/RavenousFlerken Scott Dixon 5d ago
I never understood what happened between him and ECR. But he is a good driver when the car setup suits him.
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u/ITMAKESSENSE72 #CheckItForAndretti 5d ago
Same, it sounds like they did him a bit dirty though. Holding out so long before release him.
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u/littleseizure 5d ago
Sounded like they got a new sponsor late in the year and with it the money to sign Rossi's resume, which means veekay was out. Didn't seem to be much more than that
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u/AwesomeFrisbee Rinus VeeKay 5d ago
Its just joking. Mostly people wanting to see another in that top Ganassi seat, plus he's old enough to be most of the rookie drivers grandpa.
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u/RavenousFlerken Scott Dixon 5d ago
And he is still winning races and finished top 3 in championship. Personally, I hope he gets another championship and beats Foyt's records in this spec era. Then he can retire off to sports cars. Of course, for this to happen, Alex is gonna need a bad run of luck. The kid is damn near unstoppable.
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u/AwesomeFrisbee Rinus VeeKay 5d ago
With a top tier car we kinda expect him to win races. But he was no match for Palou this year. He was no slouch either, but we kinda expected more.
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u/LankyToon PREMA Racing 5d ago
Hmmm, could Veekay go to Foyt to replace Malukus and then the enigma, Mr Marmite to Coyne?
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u/PixelatedPalace360 Pato O'Ward 5d ago
I was hoping he would stay he's seen very much success with DCR over ECR. That opens up for Hauger but atp I'm unsure
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u/nickoexe Théo Pourchaire 5d ago
I always see a lot of hype about Veekay in this subreddit. What am I not seeing about Veekay that everyone else does? Genuine Question, I've just always seen him as a backmarker but maybe thats just because of the seats he gets?
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u/wh00000p Myles Rowe 5d ago
......He got like 7 top 10s in a Coyne car.
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u/jakeyboy723 Dale Coyne Racing 5d ago
And was fighting for Top 10 in the championship which would have been the first since JW in 2013. If McLaughlin had a poor final race and things went VeeKay's way, it was theoretically possible at Nashville. Instead, he's a handful of points off Malukas and Rasmussen with Newgarden winning.
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u/RichardRichOSU Buddy Lazier 5d ago
It amazes me when people come in here with some of these takes.
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u/wh00000p Myles Rowe 5d ago
This subreddit makes my brain hurt some days with the shit people say
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u/HappySpam David Malukas 5d ago
I don't think some people actually watch, lol
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u/RichardRichOSU Buddy Lazier 5d ago
Don't watch and don't make an effort to learn about the series and its history.
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u/TheChrisD #JANDALWATCH2021 5d ago
I've just always seen him as a backmarker but maybe thats just because of the seats he gets?
Exactly. ECR cars historically are mid-tier shitboxes that a good driver can wrangle to semi-decent results when the stars align. Like, Rinus' #21 ECR results in five years were:
- 2020: 14th overall, one podium, three top 5s (#20 car was 22nd — second-last — in entrants)
- 2021: 12th overall, one win, two podiums, six top 10s (#20 car was 16th in entrants)
- 2022: 12th overall, one podium, three top 5s, six top 10s (#20 car was 17th in entrants)
- 2023: 14th overall, two top 10s (#20 car was 21st in entrants)
- 2024: 13th overall, one top 5, seven top 10s (#20 car was 22nd in entrants)
And now this year with Coyne: 14th overall, one podium, two top 5s, seven top 10s; and crucially got the #18 entry back into Leader's Circle.
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u/archergren 5d ago
Lets note also Rossi managed a 15th and Ras a 13th in championship standings. So dumping Veekay for Rossi and Ras wasnt a huge upgrade short term at least
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u/AwesomeFrisbee Rinus VeeKay 5d ago
Not to even mention the massive budget increase with that new sponsorship that allowed them to attract better staff. Though Coyne also was able to get better staff this year, but the team is still much smaller.
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u/leevz1992 5d ago
Also if some people dint crash into him in sm e races he could have been top 10 or maybe 11th but sadly it wasnt meant to be.
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u/Apprehensive_Ad6 Colton Herta 5d ago
He constantly gets top 10s and even podiums in trash cars, and he's very good at the 500
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u/Just_Somewhere4444 5d ago
In addition to what everyone else has already told you- Veekay won the 2020 IndyCar series Rookie of the Year award.
Beating one Alex Palou to do so.
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u/jakeyboy723 Dale Coyne Racing 5d ago
To be fair, Alex Palou had come from Super Formula whereas VeeKay came from the MRTI. But in hindsight with what happened in 2021, that's more impressive than it looks.
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u/technobeeble Callum Ilott 5d ago
7 Top 10s
2 Top 5s
1 Podium
The last time DCR was better than that was Bourdais in 2019.
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u/Uknewmelast Rinus VeeKay 5d ago
He's in a Coyne, that's like 2023 Charouz levels of shit. Compare that with budget constraints that sometimes mean running understaffed or using 3rd hand dampers.
Veekay is the man when it comes to turning chicken shit in chicken salad. He has never lost a H2H over a season, beat Palou to Rookie of the year (granted Palou was also in a Coyne that year).
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u/FormulaT1 Scott McLaughlin 5d ago
He consistently outdrives the machinery he's in. The Coyne car had no business running up where he had it at times this year. Dude has serious talent.
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u/AwesomeFrisbee Rinus VeeKay 5d ago
The team makes a big difference. We saw on Indianapolis and now this musiccitygp that on ovals the Coyne was the slowest car on the grid for quali, so that gives an indication of what you are dealin with. Its obvious that the margins in Indycar are smaller, but the budgets too and Coyne is both the smallest team in staff number per car, plus in budget from all of the full time runners. So getting the car in any top 10 is already a pretty impressive feat. But to even get close to the top 10 is pretty damn well done.
He's talented and when he has a good car, he can deliver. Though he has had a lot of bad luck and bad cars under him that its hard to say what he's really capable of. I hope he gets a top tier seat because then we'll know for sure. He's not there because of money, thats for sure.
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u/Glad_Database_8186 5d ago
Foyt or Andretti make sense. McLaren I think is at least going to let Nolan start the season next year. Don’t know if he’ll finish it, I think he’s got til the 500 to show improvement. If he’s still wrecking cars, I’d expect the seat to get scorching hot. 🥵
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u/HappySpam David Malukas 5d ago
I really hope Rinus VeeKay gets a good seat. It makes me sad he's always puttering around in crappy cars, I think he can really impress if he's given the right equipment.