IndyCar News: Juncos Hollinger Racing signs Rinus VeeKay for 2026

Juncos Hollinger Racing is kicking off a bold new chapter in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, announcing on Tuesday the signing of Dutch sensation Rinus VeeKay as its lead driver for the 2026 season. The move reunites the 25-year-old with a team that launched his American racing career years ago, signaling the squad’s intent to climb the grid after a solid but unspectacular 2025.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

VeeKay, who wrapped up his sixth INDYCAR campaign in 14th place this year, brings a resume packed with promise. Since bursting onto the scene as the series’ Rookie of the Year in 2020, he’s notched one victory, two pole positions, two fastest laps, five podiums, and 33 top-10 finishes across 97 starts. His crowning achievement? Becoming the youngest driver ever to qualify on the front row at the Indianapolis 500 during its 114-year history.

Hailing from Hoofddorp, Netherlands, VeeKay represents the most prominent Dutch talent in INDYCAR since two-time Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk lit up the series in the 1980s and ’90s. “This feels like a return home,” VeeKay said in a statement. Juncos Racing, the precursor to the current outfit, gave him his big break in the Pro Mazda Championship (now USF Pro 2000) back in 2018, and the pair teamed up again in Indy Lights (now Indy NXT) the following year, racking up 13 wins and a championship title.

For Juncos Hollinger, the signing is a cornerstone in its drive to evolve from mid-pack contender to consistent threat. The team, now in its fifth full INDYCAR season, posted encouraging results in 2025, including four top-eight finishes across the series’ four oval races—a category where reliability and raw speed can make or break a campaign. But with ambitions running high, the organization is doubling down on upgrades.

Behind the scenes, a powerhouse technical crew is already grinding away. Spearheading the effort are David Brown, a veteran of Formula 1 engineering, and Will Phillips, the former INDYCAR vice president of technology. Their mandate: Forge a sharper, more competitive package for 2026 and beyond, from chassis tweaks to data-driven strategies.

Team principal Dave O’Neill sees VeeKay as the perfect spark plug for the transformation. “We’re fully focused on building a program capable of sustained high performance,” O’Neill said. “Reuniting with Rinus feels like a natural continuation of the success we’ve shared in the past. At just 25, he brings six seasons of INDYCAR experience, the ideal mix of speed, consistency, race craft, and savvy that we’re looking for.”

O’Neill hinted at more changes ahead, including a revamped driver lineup to match the team’s long-term blueprint. “This is only the first of several upcoming initiatives,” he added, emphasizing a holistic overhaul on and off the track. VeeKay echoed the optimism: “This is a team with real momentum, high ambitions, and a clear vision for the future. There’s a shared determination to compete at the highest level, and I’m confident that together we can achieve great things.”

As the off-season shuffle heats up, Juncos Hollinger’s gamble on a homecoming hero could pay dividends. In a series where experience meets innovation, VeeKay’s blend of youthful fire and proven chops might just propel the team into the winner’s circle—and keep Dutch flags waving high at Indy.