STARTING POSITIONS

16th: CHRISTIAN RASMUSSEN No. 20 GuyCare Chevrolet
17th: RINUS VEEKAY No. 21 Direct Supply Chevrolet

EVENT: XPEL Grand Prix
TRACK: Road America
LOCATION: Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, USA
TRACK LAYOUT: 4-mile, 14-turn road course
RACE LENGTH: 55 Laps/220.55 Miles

BROADCAST: Sunday, June 9 – 3:30 p.m. ET (NBC)

CHRISTIAN RASMUSSEN, NO. 20 GUYCARE CHEVROLET

CHRISTIAN RASMUSSEN, No. 20 GuyCare Chevrolet, Qualified 16th: “The time was in it! We were sitting pretty good, you have to push hard on a lap like that. You get new tires and you have to push the limits because it just gets more and more dry. I thought there was a little more in Turn 8 and that’s where I went wide. I lost somewhere around 1.2 seconds in that sector, so that’s very frustrating. We would have transferred without my mistake and that’s on me.” Courtesy INDYCAR Photo

OF NOTE: 

• Christian Rasmussen is no stranger to success at Road America, having won at the track while competing in the open-wheel junior categories that currently feed the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. In the rain-soaked Practice 2 this morning, he set the third-fastest lap. The wet conditions continued into qualifying and Rasmussen continued to be quick. He had only one lap to turn a fast lap on a second set of wet tires. Despite going wide in Turn 8, he still managed to improve his lap time. He will roll off from the 16th position tomorrow.

•  Though a rookie in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Rasmussen is continuing to rack up miles of experience as the Road America race weekend is his ninth week in a row of on-track activity. Two weeks ago, he drove from 24th to 12th in the Indianapolis 500 and was the highest finishing rookie in the field. This past weekend in the streets of Detroit, he turned in his best qualifying effort of the season and narrowly missed out on advancing to the second round of qualifications. He was on track for a strong finish before being sidelined with an unexpected engine issue.

•  The No. 20 Chevrolet will compete in the colors of GuyCare for the entirety of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. GuyCare clinics provide discreet and confidential care, ensuring men’s health and well-being through proven therapeutic interventions and wellness programs. After successfully opening their first clinic in Salt Lake City, GuyCare is now expanding its service offerings nationwide through the launch of a Telemedicine program. Additional clinics will open in select NTT INDYCAR SERIES race markets throughout the 2024 season. 

RINUS VEEKAY, NO. 21 DIRECT SUPPLY CHEVROLET

RINUS VEEKAY, No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, Starting 17th: “We definitely have much more speed in the Direct Supply car than where our qualifying position shows. We spent the entire session on one set of wet tires and the guys who took a second set were able to go faster than us there at the end. It is disappointing to be starting so far back but I love this track and I love passing people so we’ll try to have some fun tomorrow.” Courtesy INDYCAR Photo

OF NOTE: 

• Rinus VeeKay has returned to one of his favorite tracks where he has many fond memories. He earned his first win in the United States at Road America, which was also his first victory in an open-wheel car. This afternoon’s qualifications for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race were declared wet, meaning competitors could run on rain tires. VeeKay was 5th until after the checkered flag, when he was bumped down by others who were able to complete their final lap with newer tires. He will start 17th in tomorrow’s XPEL Grand Prix.

• VeeKay’s last few weeks of on-track activity have included much adversity, but he has shown patience and perseverance of a veteran driver. Just three weeks ago, VeeKay and the No. 21 crew rebounded from a crash in Indianapolis 500 qualifying to earn the 7th starting position. One week later, he raced his way through the entire field after a penalty dropped him to the back. He led eight laps and finished 9th, recording another Top 10 finish in the Indy 500. Last Sunday in the streets of Detroit, VeeKay was battling for 5th when he was spun by another competitor. He dropped to 23rd but gained back nine positions by the checkered flag, despite significant damage to the car.

• This weekend, the No. 21 Chevrolet showcases the blue and white colors of longtime ECR partner Direct Supply. Headquartered in nearby Milwaukee, Direct Supply is committed to enhancing the lives of seniors and those who care for them. Since 1985, the company has helped Senior Living providers create amazing environments, improve care and outcomes, optimize building operations, streamline procurement and more. Direct Supply has been featured on the No. 21 at Road America since the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returned to the track in 2016.