Dale Coyne Racing's Rinus VeeKay Declares His Exit in Statement
In a surprising turn of events, Dutch driver Rinus VeeKay has announced that he will be joining AJ Foyt Racing for the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season. This comes after a successful stint with Dale Coyne Racing in 2025.
The news was broken at a breakfast event in Nashville on Friday, where team owner Dale Coyne announced that the team's drivers for the next season would be announced before Halloween. VeeKay, who joined Dale Coyne Racing at the beginning of the 2025 season, energized the team and led to a significant improvement in their performance.
VeeKay finished the 2025 season with a 14-place finish in the championship, exceeding his goal of finishing in the top 16. His best finish of the season was a second-place podium spot at the Toronto race, his best finish since 2021.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, VeeKay thanked several members of Dale Coyne Racing's crew for their support and hard work. He expressed gratitude towards Dale Coyne and his team for the opportunity they provided him to re-establish himself in 2025. VeeKay believes that the 2025 season was successful and hopes to have his 2026 plans sorted out soon.
With VeeKay's departure, Dale Coyne Racing now faces pressure to fill both seats by October 31. The team's No. 18 Honda will be sponsored by Ault Blockchain for the entire 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season.
Todd Ault, the founder of Ault Blockchain, is a Wall Street veteran and a fan of IndyCar racing. He expressed excitement about the team's performance this season and expressed optimism about their prospects for the future.
Meanwhile, VeeKay has stated that he is "open for doing the best for my career" and that the offseason will be used to figure out his next move. He has not ruled out a potential conversation with Team Penske, as their winningest driver in IndyCar history, Will Power, is set to depart. The No. 12 Chevrolet at Team Penske is expected to be filled by David Malukas of AJ Foyt Racing.
Dale Coyne Racing thanked VeeKay for his efforts and wished him luck on his future endeavors. VeeKay, in turn, thanked the team for the opportunity and the support they provided him during his time there.
