IndyCar: Could two full-time drivers miss Road America?
By Asher Fair
Could IndyCar see two full-time drivers miss Sunday’s REV Group Grand Prix at Road America due to recently sustained injuries?
Ed Carpenter Racing’s Rinus VeeKay was involved in an accident on a cycling trail during a training ride, and he sustained a clavicle injury that has sidelined him ahead of this Sunday afternoon’s IndyCar race at Road America, the REV Group Grand Prix.
He had never previously missed a race since his career began last season.
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[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
The 20-year-old Dutchman underwent successful surgery, but he was not medically cleared to compete this weekend.
[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
As a result, Oliver Askew was called upon to serve as his replacement.
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The 24-year-old Melbourne, Florida native is set to pilot the #21 Chevrolet in this 55-lap race around the 14-turn, 4.048-mile (6.515-kilometer) natural terrain road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin behind the wheel of VeeKay’s #21 Chevrolet.
This marks the second consecutive race for which Askew has been called upon as a replacement, as he reunited with his former team, Arrow McLaren SP, for the second race of the doubleheader at Belle Isle Street Circuit last Sunday.
Askew replaced Felix Rosenqvist behind the wheel of the #7 Chevrolet after Rosenqvist was injured in a nasty crash during the first race of the weekend, forcing him to miss a race for the first time since his career began in 2019.
Rosenqvist was treated and released from the hospital after his accident, but his status is still unclear for this Sunday afternoon’s race.
With Askew off the table, it is also unclear who would replace the 29-year-old Swede behind the wheel of the #7 Chevrolet in this event if he needs more time to recover and thus two full-time drivers end up missing the 2021 season’s ninth race.
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NBC Sports Network is set to broadcast the REV Group Grand Prix at Road America this Sunday, June 20 beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET.