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Rinus VeeKay has officially joined Juncos Hollinger Racing for the 2026 IndyCar season, a move that signals a significant reunion for the Dutch driver with a team that previously played a pivotal role in his early career successes. This partnership aims to leverage VeeKay's proven track record and the team's ambitious future plans to achieve strong results in the highly competitive IndyCar series.

VeeKay's journey with Juncos Hollinger Racing dates back to 2018 when he secured the Pro Mazda championship (now USF Pro 2000) under their banner. The following year, he continued his success with the team in Indy Lights (now Indy NXT), where he notched an impressive thirteen victories and a championship title. This deep-rooted history and mutual understanding between driver and team are expected to contribute significantly to their performance in the upcoming season.

At 25 years old, VeeKay brings a wealth of IndyCar experience to his new role as Juncos Hollinger Racing's "new lead driver." He has one IndyCar race win to his name (Indy GP 2021) and has competed in six Indy 500s, securing three top-ten finishes in the iconic event. His departure from Dale Coyne Racing, after a single season, was announced in early September, paving the way for this exciting return to Juncos.

Juncos Hollinger Racing concluded the 2025 season in 18th and 25th positions in the team standings. Despite these rankings, the team showed flashes of potential, including a fifth-place finish with Conor Daly in the Nashville season finale. Daly also earned the team's first podium finish during the 2024 season at Milwaukee, demonstrating their capability to compete at the front.

Team Principal Dave O'Neill expressed enthusiasm for VeeKay's return, highlighting the team's commitment to building a program for sustained high performance. O'Neill emphasized that VeeKay's signing is a crucial step in their strategic development, pointing to the driver's speed, consistency, race craft, and experience as key assets that will enable them to achieve quick results. The team anticipates that VeeKay will be a central figure in a revamped driver lineup designed to enhance their competitiveness and realize their long-term vision.

This renewed collaboration between Rinus VeeKay and Juncos Hollinger Racing marks an exciting chapter for both parties. With a shared history of success and a clear roadmap for the future, the team and driver are poised to make a significant impact in the 2026 IndyCar season, aiming to build on their past achievements and establish themselves as consistent front-runners.

Mick Schumacher recently embarked on a significant test drive with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) in an IndyCar, an event that has ignited considerable discussion about his future in motorsport. This evaluation, which saw him complete a comprehensive program and rank impressively among participants, marks a pivotal moment for the German driver as he considers a potential transition to the IndyCar series for the 2026 season.

Schumacher Explores IndyCar Future Following RLL Test

On a recent Monday, Mick Schumacher, aged 26, took to the 2.4-mile, 14-turn road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He piloted the No. 75 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, completing the entire testing regimen. Schumacher achieved an unofficial third-place finish among the seven drivers involved in the team's testing and evaluation session, positioning him closely behind Indy NXT champion Dennis Hauger of Dale Coyne Racing and Alexander Rossi from Ed Carpenter Racing. This experience has left Schumacher feeling 'very open' to the possibility of joining IndyCar, acknowledging that a decision will be made in due course. He emphasized his father's long-held belief that 'Schumachers are usually faster if they can see their wheels,' a sentiment that resonates with his attraction to open-wheel racing and the extensive 17-race IndyCar calendar, a stark contrast to the eight rounds of his current World Endurance Championship (WEC) involvement with Alpine.

His foray into IndyCar began with thorough preparation, including a session on Honda's simulator and a visit to RLL's facilities in Zionsville, Indiana. Schumacher lauded the RLL team, describing them as having a 'family-owned' feel, where passion for motorsport and eagerness to improve were palpable. He also navigated the linguistic nuances of American racing, learning terms like 'stickers' for new tires and adapting to different units of measurement, such as pounds and feet, though PSI remained familiar from his F1 days. Comparing IndyCar to Formula 1, where he raced for Haas from 2021 to 2022, Schumacher characterized IndyCar as more 'old-school' and 'rough' in its approach, particularly highlighting the absence of a skid, allowing drivers to push the limits of the tub. He noted that while F1 is about 'fine-tuned' aerodynamics, IndyCar, as a spec series, prioritizes cost-effectiveness. Schumacher firmly stated that he would commit entirely to one racing program, ruling out dual participation in WEC and IndyCar, stressing that such a combined effort would be overly draining. His decision timeline remains open, with the potential for an oval track test influencing his final choice. Despite the unique challenges of oval racing, he expressed confidence in IndyCar's safety advancements and a willingness to embrace the new experiences, drawn by the series' emphasis on the driver's role and feedback.

Mick Schumacher's exploration of IndyCar represents an exciting cross-continental exchange of talent and knowledge. His willingness to adapt to a new racing culture and technical environment offers valuable lessons in versatility and ambition within professional sports. It underscores that top-tier drivers continuously seek new challenges and growth opportunities, even if it means stepping outside established comfort zones.