VeeKay Jumps to Top of Warmup at Laguna Seca

By INDYCAR | Published: Jun 23, 2024

Rinus VeeKay

Rinus VeeKay will start 20th in the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey today at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, but the results of the pre-race warmup session indicate he could spring a surprise.

VeeKay led the final practice before the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race, turning a top lap of 1 minute, 8.4096 seconds in the No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet on the 11-turn, 2.238-mile circuit.

SEE: Warmup Results | Starting Lineup/Tire Choice

Live coverage of the 95-lap race starts at 6 p.m. ET today on the USA Network, Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon was second at 1:08.4516 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, followed by Agustin Canapino at 1:08.5314 in the No. 78 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet.

Linus Lundqvist was the quickest rookie and helped to put two Chip Ganassi Racing cars in the top five, ending up fourth at 1:08.6070 in the No. 8 American Legion Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Colton Herta, who is starting fourth, rounded out the top five at 1:08.6449 in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda of Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian. Herta and teammate Kyle Kirkwood – sixth overall in practice -- were the only members of drivers who competed for the pole in the Firestone Fast Six qualifying session Saturday to earn a top-six spot in this final session.

NTT P1 Award winner Alex Palou was eighth overall at 1:08.8313 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

An incident involving Sting Ray Robb of AJ Foyt Racing triggered a red flag and shortened the 30-minute session by eight minutes. Robb went off track in Turn 6 in the No. 41 Goodheart Vet/Pray.com Chevrolet and slid into the tire barrier, with the car suffering moderate damage. Robb was unhurt.

The eventful session for AJ Foyt Racing also included driver Santino Ferrucci serving a five-minute hold penalty in the pits for unsportsmanlike conduct. Ferrucci’s long-simmering feud with Juncos Hollinger Racing driver Romain Grosjean boiled over again on track when Ferrucci swerved toward Grosjean as they ran closely together.