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Indy 500 power rankings: 3 underrated drivers for 2023

By Brennan Dolan

Christian Lundgaard, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, IndyCar (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Christian Lundgaard, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, IndyCar (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing, IndyCar, Indy 500
Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing, IndyCar, Indy 500 (Photo Credit: The Indianapolis Star) /

Underrated Indy 500 drivers: No. 1 – Rinus VeeKay (Rank: 18th)

Rinus VeeKay is one of the best young talents IndyCar has to offer. The start of the 2023 season has been a struggle for 22-year-old Dutch driver, but signs of life are there.

VeeKay was able to make it into second round of qualifying at Barber Motorsports Park, and he also worked his way up to finish in 11th place after starting in 26th at Texas Motor Speedway.

We know that the Indy 500 should be one of Ed Carpenter Racing’s best showings as a team, just as it usually is. In a lineup of Indy 500 veterans featuring Ed Carpenter and Conor Daly, VeeKay flies somewhat under the radar at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. However, his speed will eventually garner results for him in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.

Expect yet another strong qualifying weekend from VeeKay this year. In his three Indy 500 starts, his worst starting position is fourth place. But he has yet to convert those strong qualifying speeds into success come race day. He has finished in 20th, eighth, and 33rd, respectively.

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He will be looking to avenge the fact that he was the first driver to retire from the race last year. Will this be the year his talent and Ed Carpenter Racing’s Indy 500 car combination can put it all together?