JHR starting positions for 110th indy 500 locked in; Rinus Veekay with team best performance
Qualifying – Day 1
After four days of practice, Juncos Hollinger Racing and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES were set to qualify for the 110th Indy 500. However, the weather system that delayed Fast Friday reared its head again, as rain cancelled the morning’s scheduled practice sessions. The front continued to roll through the Indianapolis area, dumping more rain on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The decision to cancel the day’s running was made around 3:30 PM, setting up an action-packed Sunday as all 33 drivers would have a single attempt to make the top 12.
Qualifying – Day 2
Two days of on-track running were squeezed into one, as teams were given a split group practice session ahead of qualifying. Both Juncos Hollinger Racing drivers skipped the morning practice session, ensuring they had fresh racecars for their qualifying runs. Rinus VeeKay was fifth in the order to qualify, which meant his attempt was before both ambient and track temperatures sharply increased. Sting Ray Robb drew 22nd for his qualifying slot, putting his run in the latter half of the session.
After what was Juncos Hollinger Racing’s most successful Indy 500 qualifying performance, advancing to the Fast 12 for the first time, the team will start the 110th Indy 500 from Rows 4 and 11. Rinus VeeKay qualified the No. 76 JHR-DRR-Wedbush Chevrolet in P12 with a four-lap average of 229.585 MPH. Sting Ray Robb and the No. 77 JHR-Goodheart Chevrolet had a four-lap average speed of 226.572 MPH, putting him in P33 to start the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
Driver Perspectives
Rinus VeeKay, No. 76 JHR-DRR-Wedbush Chevrolet:
“We gave it all we had there. We were very aggressive on our aero trim, and I think with the temperatures this afternoon - the extra wind - the tires just didn't really hold on.
“I’m really happy with the team, how everybody worked together to make this possible, and starting 12, we can do anything from there. And the most important thing we need is to make sure we have a fast race car as well.
“A very good job, and I'm proud of the whole JHR crew, and everybody on the 76 Wedbush JHR stand for making this happen.”
Sting Ray Robb, No. 77 JHR-Goodheart Chevrolet:
“Definitely not where we wanted to end up. I think we’ve been fighting the balance a little bit throughout qualifying weekend, and at a place like Indianapolis, if you’re missing even a little bit, it shows. Huge credit to this No. 77 crew, though. Everybody kept working, kept digging, and never stopped trying to find more speed.
“The good news is this place rewards perseverance. Starting 33rd isn’t ideal, but there’s a lot that can happen in the Indy 500. We’ll keep working on the race car, focus on having something strong in traffic, and trust that we can move forward when it matters most.”