RACE RESULTS

10th: RINUS VEEKAY No. 21 Chevrolet
17th: ED CARPENTER No. 20 GuyCare Chevrolet 

NEXT RACE: BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland, August 25 (USA Network, 3 p.m. ET)

ED CARPENTER, NO. 20 GUYCARE CHEVROLET

ED CARPENTER, No. 20 GuyCare Chevrolet, Finished 17th: “That was a long night. I thought it was going to be over early, but we caught a break and were able to carry on after changing the rear wing. It did put us in a hole to start with but we soldiered on. We were able to pick up some spots, it still wasn’t a great day with points but we salvaged something better than what it could have been with the start of the race. We’ve got four left and we’ll do our best!”

OF NOTE: 

• Ed Carpenter started 21st this afternoon for his ninth race at World Wide Technology Raceway. Only seven laps into the 260-lap event, he was hit by another competitor who would ultimately receive a penalty for avoidable contact. Damage to the No. 20 GuyCare Chevrolet was limited to the rear wing which the crew quickly worked to change. With the track measuring only 1.25 miles, Carpenter would fall laps down while repairs were completed but was able to continue in the race.

• Carpenter took the ensuing restart from the 26th position as the last car running. Smart driving, solid strategy and clean pit stops kept the No. 20 in position to move up the timing sheets as opportunities were presented. By the checkered flag, he moved up to the 17th position, up nine spots from the early-race incident. 

RINUS VEEKAY, NO. 21 CHEVROLET

RINUS VEEKAY, No. 21 Chevrolet, Finished 10th: “It was a crazy night! There was a time that I did not expect we would get a Top 10. It was tough at times, I was really struggling with the handling of the car. We trimmed a little bit of downforce off, which was the same thing that Josef (Newgarden, race winner) did. He trimmed a a little more than us, but their cars can probably handle it bit better. I was missing some grip and it was sketchy to keep the car on track at times. The red flag situation was very unfortunate, my rain light was broken so the officials demanded that we fix it, which caused us to be penalized and sent to the back. We had a good strategy, we did the right thing so good job by the guys there! It kind of felt like a day where the car was driving me instead of me driving the car, but we got another Top 10 out of it! On to the next one!”

OF NOTE: 

• Rinus VeeKay qualified 14th for this afternoon’s Bommarito 500, but was able to start 12th after grid penalties were issued. He made quick work of cars in front of him, moving up into the Top 10 in just a matter of green flag laps. On Lap 17, the rear of the No. 21 Chevrolet was struck by another competitor, but sustained no visible damage. 

• VeeKay was up to 6th before the next yellow flag. He stopped under the caution, selecting a slightly different pit sequence than the leaders which would ultimately allow him to have more fuel at the end of the race. A red flag flew on Lap 253 of 260 and VeeKay was back in the 6th position. However, it was discovered that the rain light was missing from the rear wing of the No. 21. The repair was mandated by INDYCAR and VeeKay was forced to take the restart from the back of the field. He still managed a 10th-place result – his fourth Top 10 in a row.