IndyCar: Another driver change for Road America race
By Asher Fair
For the second consecutive IndyCar race, Oliver Askew is set to fill in for an injured driver, this time in the REV Group Grand Prix at Road America.
This past Sunday, Oliver Askew was called upon by Arrow McLaren SP, the team for which he drove full-time in the 2020 IndyCar season, to replace Felix Rosenqvist behind the wheel of the #7 Chevrolet for the second of two races at Belle Isle Street Circuit.
Rosenqvist was involved in a nasty accident in the first race of the weekend on Saturday afternoon, which sent him to hospital and forced him to miss his first race since he began competing in the series in the 2019 season. His status remains unclear for this Sunday afternoon’s REV Group Grand Prix at Road America.
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Now Askew has been called up as a substitute once again, but this time at Ed Carpenter Racing behind the wheel of the #21 Chevrolet.
Rinus VeeKay was involved in an accident on a cycling trail during a training ride, and he sustained a clavicle injury.
[UPDATE] Yesterday, Ed Carpenter Racing driver @RinusVeeKay was involved in an accident on a cycling trail during a training ride. He sustained a clavicle injury and is currently being treated by INDYCAR's medical staff. VeeKay is in good spirits and has no other injuries. pic.twitter.com/WbpUv7gWxu
— Ed Carpenter Racing (@ECRIndy) June 15, 2021
Medical update, don’t worry - I’m in good hands. @IndyCar @ECRIndy pic.twitter.com/1KYmKLrPm9
— Rinus VeeKay (@rinusveekay) June 15, 2021
He underwent successful surgery, but he is not medically cleared to compete this weekend, so Askew is set to replace him in Sunday’s 55-lap race around the 14-turn, 4.048-mile (6.515-kilometer) natural terrain road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
[UPDATE] @RinusVeeKay underwent successful outpatient surgery to repair a fractured clavicle sustained in a cycling accident.
— Ed Carpenter Racing (@ECRIndy) June 16, 2021
As RVK is not medically cleared to drive, @Oliver_Askew will take over the No. 21 @_DirectSupply car at @RoadAmerica.
More: https://t.co/GqonkCtImC pic.twitter.com/UbVYAicqDA
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Askew has made 13 career IndyCar starts, including two at Road America last season. He finished in 15th and 21st place in those two races.
He also made two starts at the track in the U.S. F2000 National Championship in 2017, finishing in 17th and third place, and he made two starts at the track in the Pro Mazda Championship in 2018, finishing in ninth and eighth. He finished in fifth and third in two starts at the track in Indy Lights in 2019.
As for VeeKay, he sits in a fifth place tie in the championship standings with Team Penske’s Simon Pagenaud through eight races, having secured his first career victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course last month.
The 20-year-old Dutchman is expected to return for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Sunday, July 4. He had never missed a race since his career began last year.
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The REV Group Grand Prix at Road America is set to be broadcast live on Sunday, June 20 beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.