Rinus VeeKay finished 10th in the 2026 IndyCar Series Drivers’ Championship, a milestone that lifts both him and Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) to their first career top‑10 result.
VeeKay’s 10th‑Place Finish Breaks New Ground for IndyCar
At 25, the Dutchman secured career‑best 10th place behind the wheel of the No. 76 JHR Chevrolet. The 18‑race season produced one podium, four top‑fives and eight top‑10s, eclipsing top‑tier rivals Will Power of Andretti Global and Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing. VeeKay’s earlier best of 12th in 2021 and 2022 with Ed Carpenter Racing has been surpassed, and the team’s previous record of 16th, set by Callum Ilott in 2023, was shattered.
Photo by: Penske Entertainment
Season Highlights and Key Race Moments
Milwaukee presented JHR’s sole podium, carrying the No. 76 from 24th to 3rd in a dramatic 18‑lap run. Throughout the season the driver amassed four top‑five finishes and eight top‑10s, consistently outscoring seasoned competitors. The final race at Las Vegas required extraordinary resilience; VeeKay began on P19, advanced past Nolan Siegel, Christian Rasmussen and Scott Dixon early on, and later surged to P7 before finishing 16th.
“10th in the Championship! That was our goal coming into this weekend,” VeeKay said. “It wasn’t our easiest race. We missed the balance a little bit in qualifying and, in the end, it was a track‑position race and we just couldn’t get too much done there. We had a little bit of an issue on the first pit stop where we didn’t get all the fuel in, so we had to adjust the strategy and go to a four‑stop. I think we adjusted quite well and didn’t take too much risk.”
Strategic Challenges and Team Execution
An incomplete fuel fill on lap 14 forced JHR to adopt a four‑stop strategy, but VeeKay set the fastest lap of the race and maintained a position within the top seven at the final restart. The crew’s careful balance of risk and assumption kept the driver’s points tally afloat, allowing a 10‑point margin over the 11th spot in the standings.
“Looking back at that, an incredible job by the team, by the No. 76 crew, all the engineers, the mechanics, the guys doing pit stops and everyone who helped get me to 10th in the Championship,” the Dutchman added. “I’m really happy for everybody and really thankful for all the hard work from everyone on the team.”
Team Leadership Perspective on Progress
Team Principal Dave O’Neill framed the season as a testament to JHR’s growth. “To finish P10 in the Drivers’ Championship is a fantastic achievement for this team and something we can all be incredibly proud of,” he said. “Our previous best finish was 16th, so that shows how far we’ve come.” He also highlighted the team’s consistent presence inside the top 10 of the Firestone Pit Stop Performance standings, a key indicator of operational improvement.
O’Neill reflected on the season’s support system, noting the role of Chevrolet sponsorship and the importance of fan backing.
Future Outlook for JHR and the IndyCar Field
While the No. 77 Chevrolet driven by Sting Ray Robb fell short of the Leader’s Circle, ending 25th, JHR’s overall trajectory is clear: a podium in Milwaukee, multiple top‑fives, and a resilient finish in the final race prove the team’s potential to challenge established powerhouses in forthcoming seasons.
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