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IndyCar: Five possible replacement candidates for Takuma Sato in 2018

By Asher Fair

FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 09: Takuma Sato, driver of the #26 Andretti Autosport Honda, practices for the Verizon IndyCar Series Rainguard Water Sealers 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 9, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 09: Takuma Sato, driver of the #26 Andretti Autosport Honda, practices for the Verizon IndyCar Series Rainguard Water Sealers 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 9, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /
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Zach Veach

Zach Veach, 22, has been in pursuit of a full-time ride in IndyCar for a number of years now. He may be a legitimate candidate to fill the seat of the #26 Andretti Autosport Honda.

Prior to the 2017 season, Veach had never driven in IndyCar before. He made his series debut in April at Barber Motorsports Park for Ed Carpenter Racing in a replacement role for JR Hildebrand, finishing in 19th place. Then in May, he made his Indianapolis 500 debut with AJ Foyt Racing. However, mechanical issues prevented him from finishing the race, as he ended up back in 26th.

While Veach has driven just two career IndyCar races before, he has certainly been in Andretti Autosport team owner Michael Andretti’s sights for quite a while now. He drove for Andretti Autosport in the 2010 and 2011 seasons in the U.S. F2000 National Championship, winning one of his 22 races over two seasons there and finishing in the top 5 in the championship standings both seasons.

Then in the 2012 season, Veach continued driving for Andretti Autosport, this time in the Star Mazda Championship. He did not have the success there that he had in the U.S. F2000 series, but he did manage two podium finishes en route to a 10th place finish in the standings.

While his 2012 season in Star Mazda was not spectacular, he continued his climb up the Road to Indy ladder and drove for Andretti Autosport in 2013 in the Indy Lights Series. He finished on the podium once in 12 races en route to a 7th place finish in the standings.

The 2014 season was Veach’s breakout season. Still driving for Andretti Autosport in Indy Lights, he opened up the season with finishes of 1st, 2nd, 1st and 3rd place, respectively. He ended up with three victories and another six podium finishes in 14 races en route to a 3rd place finish in the standings.

Unfortunately, a hand injury sidelined him in the 2015 season, but he returned to Indy Lights in 2016 driving for Belardi Auto Racing and had another impressive season, winning three of 18 races and finishing on the podium in another five events en route to a 4th place finish in the standings.

Veach’s perseverance and loyalty to Andretti could end up paying off here. When talking with him at Pocono in 2015, he stated that the Andretti’s were “like family”, and when talking to him at Pocono this year, he said he was “close” to a full-time ride in 2018, although he did not mention with which team.