#21 – Rinus VeeKay, 14th within the championship standings (277 factors) – 17 races
- 0 wins, 0 podiums, 0 high fives, 2 high 10s, 0 poles, 1 Quick Six Look
- Greatest End: sixth (Portland)
- Greatest Begin: 2nd (Indianapolis 500)
#20 – Ryan Hunter-Reay, twenty sixth within the championship standings (131 factors) – 11 races, 10 w/ECR
- 0 wins, 0 podiums, 0 high fives, 1 high 10, 0 poles, 0 Quick Six Appearances
- Greatest End (w/ ECR): tenth (Laguna Seca)
- Greatest Begin (w/ ECR): sixteenth (Iowa – Race 1)
#20 – Conor Daly, twenty fifth in championship standings (134 factors) – 11 races, 7 w/ ECR
- 0 wins, 0 podiums, 0 high fives, 1 high 10, 0 poles, 0 Quick Six Appearances (* w/ ECR)
- Greatest End (w/ ECR): eighth (Indianapolis 500)
- Greatest Begin (w/ ECR): fifteenth (Detroit)
#33 – Ed Carpenter, thirtieth in championship standings (46 factors) – 5 races
- 0 wins, 0 podiums, 0 high fives, 0 high 10s, 0 poles, 1 Quick Six Look
- Greatest End: thirteenth (Texas)
- Greatest Begin: 4th (Iowa – Race 2)
Joey Barnes: The excellent news is that Rinus VeeKay solely had two finishes of twenty first or worse. The unhealthy information, although, is that he solely had two high 10s and no outcome within the high 5. I’d think about there was frustration within the ECR camp as a 12 months in the past they appeared poised to take one other step, however that isn’t what occurred.
Truthfully, I’m unsure it’s as a lot about regression throughout the camp even with a midseason driver change that noticed Conor Daly swapped for Ryan Hunter-Reay, however extra concerning the enlargement and progress by different groups.
VeeKay certified within the high 10 3 times in 2023, which is undoubtedly one of many key areas that has to enhance subsequent 12 months if they’re to push again into contending for high fives and the occasional podium or win.
Hunter-Reay offered sufficient stability to be a benchmark for the staff but in addition gave VeeKay a veteran team-mate with a championship pedigree, which is one thing that hadn’t existed since coming into the IndyCar Collection in 2020. I imagine that might pay dividends going into subsequent 12 months in a wide range of methods, possibly none extra essential as VeeKay takes on the management position with Christian Rasmussen, the 2023 Indy NXT champion, set for choose rounds within the seat Hunter-Reay occupied.
Picture by: Gavin Baker / Motorsport Photos
Ryan Hunter-Reay, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Nick Degroot: Ed Carpenter Racing appeared to go downhill in 2023. Taking a look at Rinus VeeKay, his common end was much like final 12 months, however he simply seemed to be much less aggressive general.
As anticipated, ECR was once more a drive to be reckoned with on the Indianapolis 500 although. VeeKay began from the entrance row, led 24 laps and scored a top-ten end. Nevertheless, that was the one time he led in any respect in the course of the 2023 season.
The No. 20 automotive, which began the 12 months with Conor Daly earlier than switching to Ryan Hunter-Reay after seven races, wasn’t any higher. There have been simply two high 10s between these veteran drivers, together with an eighth-place end from Daly within the 500.
However I see good issues on the horizon for ECR, regardless of a stagnant 2023 season. Newly topped Indy NXT champion Christian Rasmussen will run the highway and avenue programs, sharing the journey with Carpenter himself. The staff will solely run three automobiles on the 500 with Rasmussen becoming a member of Carpenter and VeeKay. Maybe they will now make higher use of the instruments at their disposal as they intention to regain some misplaced floor on the competitors.
