RACE RESULTS

8th: RINUS VEEKAY No. 21 Chevrolet
27th: CHRISTIAN RASMUSSEN No. 20 GuyCare Chevrolet

NEXT RACE: Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway, August 17 (NBC, 6 p.m. ET)

CHRISTIAN RASMUSSEN, NO. 20 GUYCARE CHEVROLET

CHRISTIAN RASMUSSEN, No. 20 GuyCare Chevrolet, Finished 27th: “Just a really unfortunate day. I was very proud of the work that the team has put in to give me a good car and we were starting in a good place. We were hoping for another strong result and instead we do not have anything to show for our effort. We will try to make the most of the Portland race next month and finish my season on a positive.” Courtesy INDYCAR Photo

OF NOTE: 

• For his second race in a row and the second time in his NTT INDYCAR SERIES career, Christian Rasmussen advanced to the second round of qualifying. He easily advanced out of Round 1, Group 1 with a lap that had him 3rd overall. In Round 2, Rasmussen had the 12th fastest time, which was his starting position in today’s Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto.

• In Turn 1 of the very first lap, the No. 20 GuyCare Chevrolet was struck in by another competitor. The contact pushed Rasmussen into the wall, resulting in suspension damage. The No. 20 was pulled behind the wall and the crew was unable to attempt repairs. Rasmussen was credited with a 27th place finish. 

RINUS VEEKAY, NO. 21 CHEVROLET

RINUS VEEKAY, No. 21 Chevrolet, Finished 8th: “Crazy race! I avoided most of the trouble and my tires held on well. There really wasn’t that much passing, I had a few good ones but it was quite hard to get by another car. Towards the end, we chose to go to new sticker green Firehawks which was a really good call. Unfortunately, in the Turn 5 stack up at the end, I damaged the front wing. I had to pit for a new one and take the restart a bit farther back. I was able to move forward again, so I am pretty happy with where we finished! This was one of those days where you really don’t have to do too much special, you just need to finish and stay out of the problems.” Courtesy INDYCAR Photo

OF NOTE: 

• Rinus VeeKay earned his third Top 10 finish in eight days this afternoon with an 8th place this afternoon in the streets of Toronto. Expectations for qualifying were high as he turned Top 10 lap times in two practice sessions, but heavy traffic impacted his qualifying group. He was unable to turn a clean lap on his set of green Firestone Firehawks and started 22nd in this afternoon’s race. 

• VeeKay began the 85-lap race on a set of black Firestone Firehawks. He stretched them to Lap 30, where he had cycled up to 10th. He rejoined the race in 15th, having gained seven positions in his first stint. His set of alternate green Firehawks carried him to Lap 52, then he made his second stop and selected another set of black tires for the final stint. 

• He was able to move up two positions before a massive multi-car accident broke out in Turn 1 with less than 10 laps to go. VeeKay avoided the scene and moved up to 11th. After a nearly 20 minute red flag, the race resumed. The call was made to stop for another set of sticker green Firehawks, but his forward progress was halted by front wing damage on the ensuing restart. After another pit stop for a new front wing, he used his fresh set of tires to pick up four positions in the final five laps.