Juncos Hollinger Racing encouraged by Mid-Ohio test ahead of Honda Indy 200
As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding over Independence Day weekend, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for one of the championship's most established events – the Honda Indy 200.
Juncos Hollinger Racing arrives in Ohio with reasons for optimism following a successful test at the circuit last week. Rinus VeeKay recorded the second-fastest unofficial lap of the day with a 1m05.413s, while Sting Ray Robb finished ninth as the team completed an extensive evaluation programme ahead of Round 11 of the 2026 season.
The additional running provides a valuable advantage heading into race weekend. Unlike most events on the calendar, Juncos Hollinger Racing returns to Mid-Ohio with recent data and a clearer understanding of its package, allowing the team to build on the work completed during testing.
First opened in 1962, Mid-Ohio has become one of North America's most respected permanent road courses and has hosted INDYCAR racing since 1980. The flowing 2.258-mile, 13-turn layout rewards precision, rhythm and consistency, with qualifying, tyre management and strategy all expected to play an important role across Sunday's 90-lap contest.
With the championship entering its second half, every opportunity to score points becomes increasingly valuable as teams continue to develop their packages and build momentum through the remainder of the season. The encouraging pace shown during testing provides a positive platform as Juncos Hollinger Racing looks to convert preparation into performance.
Returning for a second consecutive race weekend is the special Justin Patten-designed No. 76 Chevrolet. Following its debut at Road America, the striking full-car artwork will once again take to the track at Mid-Ohio, continuing the collaboration between Juncos Hollinger Racing and the acclaimed artist.
Team Perspective
Rinus VeeKay, No. 76 Chevrolet:
"We had a productive test at Mid-Ohio, and it gave us a good direction heading into the race weekend. It's a track where the balance of the car is everything because you have to be confident through the high-speed sections but still get the car to rotate in the slower corners. We learned a lot during the test, and now it's about putting all of that together when it counts. The goal this weekend is to qualify well, stay in the mix all day, and give ourselves a chance to fight for a strong result."
Sting Ray Robb, No. 77 Chevrolet:
"We came away from the test with a much better understanding of what we need from the car at Mid-Ohio. It's a technical track where every small adjustment can make a difference over the course of a lap, so having that extra track time was really valuable. I felt like we made good progress throughout the day, and now it's about carrying those lessons into the race weekend. If we can execute in qualifying and stay disciplined on strategy, I think we can put ourselves in a position to have a solid weekend."
Dave O'Neill, Team Principal, Juncos Hollinger Racing:
"Having the opportunity to test at Mid-Ohio before returning for the race weekend has been really valuable for us. We worked through a comprehensive programme across both cars, gathered a lot of useful information and came away with a much clearer understanding of where we are.
"The lap times were encouraging, but more importantly we were able to evaluate a number of different areas that should help us heading into the weekend. Testing is about preparation, and we feel we've given ourselves a solid foundation to build on.
"Mid-Ohio is one of the most technical circuits on the calendar. It's a track that rewards precision, consistency and getting the small details right, so qualifying and race execution will both be important.
"It's also a special weekend for the series with the United States celebrating its 250th anniversary over Independence Day, and we're looking forward to seeing the Justin Patten art car back on track for a second consecutive event. It was a fantastic talking point at Road America and we're excited to showcase it ag