P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Rinus VeeKay embracing leadership role at ECR entering 2024
VeeKay is entering his fifth season in the premier open-wheel championship in North America, despite being only 23 years old. Last year was his worst season statistically, with only two top 10 finishes and a 14th place overall in the standings. However, the challenging campaign forced growth and maturity for both VeeKay and his team. The midseason driver swap from Conor Daly to Ryan Hunter-Reay also had an impact on VeeKay’s development. Team owner/driver Ed Carpenter believes that VeeKay’s improvement is a result of gaining his own experience, learning from a veteran teammate like Hunter-Reay, and growing older and more mature both on and off the track. VeeKay feels confident and ready to take on a leadership role, especially as a mentor to incoming rookie Christian Rasmussen. He credits Hunter-Reay for teaching him the importance of thorough preparation and analysis before races.
