Rinus VeeKay has underlined the technique of driving fast on an oval in IndyCar when in dirty air ahead of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Multiple drivers have voiced concerns before the event in Illinois about a lack of strategic options with one tyre compound and the circuit’s high line. Scott Dixon has even suggested IndyCar should lower the boost available at Gateway to help improve the racing.
The circuit’s unique shape, with varying degrees of banking around the track, makes it stand out compared to other venues in IndyCar.
Gateway’s high line may have significantly less grip than lower down the circuit nearer the apron, making overtaking a real challenge over the 260-lap race.
Rinus VeeKay believes racing in dirty air has similarities to driving in the rain
Dirty air is a critical factor in oval racing, as the turbulent air coming off the car in front makes it difficult to pass. This hurts the front tyres of the driver behind and puts more of an emphasis on making moves in the pit lane.
VeeKay told David Land that experiencing dirty air on an oval is similar to driving in the rain, and there is a noticeable difference when running in clean air.
He said: “We have that high line session where nobody really wants to take much risk, but you get to practise that high line, and it helps, you can feel the grip. It’s almost like driving in the rain when it comes to dirty air.
“You can just feel in one groove, there’s going to be more grip because you have no dirty air. You just feel the car go millisecond by millisecond [quicker].
“But you’ll feel things, [and] as long as you can feel everything throughout the whole corner, you can adjust. But I think if you can feel the grip, it’s going to be fine.”
Rinus VeeKay anticipates drivers will have more belief in using Gateway’s high line
The tyre that Firestone is bringing to Gateway is slightly harder than in previous seasons to compensate for the extra weight added by the hybrid system.
This will allow drivers to run more laps in a stint with less degradation, making passing even more difficult as the tyre delta will be not as prominent as in recent years.
Despite the harder, less grippy tyres, the 23-year-old is optimistic that drivers will be able to overtake and drive on the high line.
VeeKay added: “I think drivers will have more confidence to run that higher groove. Just as a mental thing, knowing that you have all the downforce, it is going to be more likely to run outside compared to last year.”
After finishing in 11th place at Gateway last season, the Dutchman will be hoping to break into the top 10 a year later for Ed Carpenter Racing.