ZIONSVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — One other new driver shall be behind the wheel of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s No. 30 automotive.
Estonian driver Juri Vips will make his IndyCar debut on the Bitnile.com Grand Prix of Portland, Oregon, on Labor Day weekend.
Vips turns into the third driver to race within the No. 30 this season. Most lately, Noblesville-native Conor Daly piloted the RLL automotive. Daly completed sixteenth after beginning eleventh within the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 on the World Extensive Know-how Raceway simply outdoors St. Louis.
“I’m very happy for the group to enter Juri within the Portland and Laguna Seca races,” RLL’s co-owner Bobby Rahal mentioned in a information launch. “Clearly, he was the lead Pink Bull Junior driver a number of years in the past and exhibited loads of expertise, which we noticed through the two exams he ran with us so we’re trying ahead to seeing what he can do on a race weekend.”
Vips is happy to race in his first IndyCar occasion.
“I’m tremendous joyful to get the chance with Rahal Letterman Lanigan (RLL) Racing and really grateful to Bobby, Mike and everybody on the group,” Vips mentioned within the launch. “I haven’t been driving all 12 months so the anticipation for this chance has been immense however I’m actually trying ahead to beginning once more.”
Vips has pushed in an Indy automotive twice within the final 12 months — the primary time coming final October in a check for Rahal Letterman Lanigan on Sebring Worldwide Raceway’s observe. Most lately, Vips drove at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, in March.
The group says he’s been practising with static simulator testing for RLL all through the season.
“It appeared like we simply gelled,” Vips mentioned of his time at Sebring. “I received together with everybody and I actually just like the ambiance on the group. Bobby’s additionally one to provide second possibilities and I’m extraordinarily grateful that he’s giving me one and I actually hope to carry a great consequence for him, Mike and the entire group.”
Vips is able to make an instantaneous impression for the group beginning this weekend.
“I hope I can show myself and most significantly get them into the Winners Circle, which is all the time my fundamental mission. I really feel prepared for these races, I believe the tracks swimsuit my expertise and driving fashion and the automotive as effectively. I’ve already built-in myself with the group this 12 months, performing some work for them on the simulator so I already know the folks and really feel very snug with everybody which is a giant profit for me as effectively.”
The Estonian may be technically new to IndyCar, however he’s accustomed to the younger weapons already on the collection.
“Marcus Armstrong was my teammate twice truly — in 2017 and in 2022. He’s a great man that I do know rather well,” Vips mentioned. “I additionally raced in opposition to Christian (Lundgaard) in 2019 and 2021, Alex Palou in 2018 and some races with Callum Ilott in 2020. I look ahead to racing them once more.”
Rahal Letteman Lanigan’s No. 30 automotive was pushed by British driver Jack Harvey for almost all of the season earlier than being changed earlier than Sunday’s race on Gateway’s quick oval. Harvey by no means cracked the top-10 — his greatest end being thirteenth on the Acura Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside in April.
Vips’ IndyCar debut shall be 3 p.m. Sept. 3 Japanese time in Portland.
