INDIANAPOLIS – As the winner of the Dairy Ass’n of Indiana Fastest Rookie Award, Rinus VeeKay of The Netherlands also became the fastest teenager in Indianapolis 500 history.
The rookie driver for Ed Carpenter Racing starts fourth in Sunday’s 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge after running a four-lap average of 230.704 mph around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday.
He nearly made the front row, losing out by just .021 of a second to Takuma Sato, the winner of the 101st Indy 500.
VeeKay is also the fastest Chevrolet driver and the only Chevy driver in the top 12 starting positions.
VeeKay was honored by the American Dairy Ass’n Indiana (ADAI) as the 46th Fastest Rookie award winner Tuesday at a program that took place in an audio/video studio on the Northeast side of Indianapolis.
Because of COVID-19, the event was a virtual awards ceremony instead of a luncheon at the Speedway.
The Hoofddorp, Netherlands driver was joined by his parents and members of the ADAI, including president Richard Thomas of Middlebury, Ind.; Janet Dague of Kewanna, Ind.; and treasurer Tim Haynes of Garrett, Ind.
Video greetings came from Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles.
Fellow Indy 500 rookies Alex Palou of Spain, Pato O’Ward of Mexico, Oliver Askew of Jupiter, Fla., and Dalton Kellett of Canada joined the program via Zoom.
“In The Netherlands, on school trips we would go to dairy farms and that was super fun,” VeeKay said. “It’s cool that it’s part of the 500.
“When I went to Indianapolis as the first time as a spectator in 2016, I met Arie Luyendyk (two-time Indy 500 winner) at Union Jack’s Pub,” he added. “I started winning in the United States and Arie wanted to be part of the program. He has been a mentor ever since.”
The Fastest Rookie of the Year award is one of two programs that continues the long association between the Indiana dairy industry and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
An ice-cold bottle of milk has been presented to the winner of the Indianapolis 500 as part of victory lane ceremonies for portions of nine decades, including the last 65 years.
Louis Meyer, the races’ first three-time winner (1928, ’33, ’36) is the driver that began the tradition of milk in victory lane when he asked for a cold glass of buttermilk after his win in 1933.
Three years later, Meyer was back in victory lane and photographed with the bottle of milk.
In 1956, the bottle of milk was made a permanent part of the Indy 500 victory celebration by Speedway owner Anton “Tony” Hulman.
This year’s Indy 500 winner will be greeted in victory circle by American Dairy Ass’n Indiana’s 2020 Milk Person – Hoosier dairy farmer Jill Houin of Plymouth, Ind.
VeeKay often celebrates his victories in Indy Lights and other junior series with “wooden shoes” to represents his Dutch heritage.
Palou was the only other rookie driver in the Firestone Fast Nine. The 23-year-old from Spain qualified seventh with a four-lap average of 229.676 mph in the No. 55 Dale Coyne Racing with Team Goh Honda.
“Rinus did a tremendous job in the Fast Nine,” Palou said. “It was tricky. The wind was blowing in the Fast Nine. We had the best car we could. It was a pleasure to be in the Fast Nine my first time in the Indy 500.
“Now, I’m looking forward to the race.”
Palou believes the key to his quick adaptation to ovals came at Iowa Speedway, because it was a doubleheader. The back-to-back races elevated his focus on ovals.
O’Ward starts 15th after completing a four-lap average of 230.213 mph in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet.
“I’m looking forward to this year, we’re in for a treat,” O’Ward said. “It’s the first 500 with the aeroscreen and I’m looking forward to it. It’s been a fast week so far.”
Askew, of Arrow McLaren SP, qualified 21st at 229.760 mph and will start on the outside of row seven.
“Thanks to Rinus for representing the rookie class well,” Askew said. “Rinus and I have had a rivalry for about seven or eight years now, climbing up the ladder to the IndyCar Series. Every time I would show up to a race track, Rinus was there.
“We measure our performance off each other. It’s been a great rivalry and I look forward to continuing that in IndyCar.”
Kellett qualified 24th with four laps at 228.880 mph in the No. 41 Chevrolet for AJ Foyt Racing.
“The team has done a great job finding speed here with Charlie Kimball and AJ Foyt,” Kellett said. “We have a pretty strong group for the race.”
VeeKay understands the relationship between driving well and having a race car that allows him to drive hard. He felt that in the car that Ed Carpenter Racing prepared for this past weekend’s qualifications.
He delivered with four fast, clean laps that kept him in the front row until the last driver in qualifications, Marco Andretti, won the pole. That moved VeeKay into the inside of row two.
That’s a prime starting position for VeeKay if he hopes to become the first rookie winner of the Indianapolis 500 since Alexander Rossi won the 100th Indianapolis 500 in 2016.
“I wish there were full grandstands, so many fans at the race track to enjoy this year’s Indianapolis 500,” VeeKay said. “It’s been a very tough year for everyone. We want to make sure that everyone is safe.
“I will do my utmost best to make sure I do my part to make a great show for everyone watching the Indianapolis 500 at home on television.”