By: Spencer Neff
February 18, 2023

Ed Carpenter Racing has featured the same trio of drivers since the 2020 season. For 2022, their exact spots on the team would shift.

Opting to move to a third entry (No. 33), Owner/Driver Ed Carpenter would continue his oval-only schedule for the ninth consecutive season.

Carpenter’s move to a third car made the opportunity for Conor Daly to remain in the No. 20 for the entire season.

It would mark the first time since 2017 that Daly completed the full season with a single team.

2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year Rinus VeeKay would return for his third season, all behind the wheel of the No. 21.

Rinus VeeKay

A year after earning his first career victory (IMS Road Course 1) and front row start at the Indianapolis 500, Hoofddorp, Netherlands’ RInus VeeKay would continue to lead the way at ECR.

He would start the season by qualifying and finishing Top 10 for the opening two rounds. Between the races at St. Petersburg and Texas, VeeKay led 18 laps. At Barber Motorsports Park, he would earn his second career pole.

On May 1, the No. 21 led a race-high 57 laps before finishing third. By leading 18 laps at Toronto, VeeKay would improve his tally for 2022 to 94, more than his first two seasons combined.

VeeKay has shown flashes of promise throughout his young career. Unfortunately, the results haven’t always gone along with his talent and speed.

VeeKay also is seeking his third consecutive front row start at the Indianapolis 500 presented By Gainbridge. In May, the Dutchman finished last on the 33-car grid after a Lap 36 crash.

Conor Daly

A long-time local favorite, Noblesville, Indiana’s own would see the best results of 2022 during the month of May. For the May 14 GMR Grand Prix, the second-generation driver earned his first top five since 2017 after a fifth-place finish.

15 days later, he would lead 7 laps at the Indianapolis 500 presented By Gainbridge. By race’s end, he earned a career-best sixth place finish in his ninth appearance in the race.

Daly would start third for both Iowa Speedway races in July as well. If Chevrolet draws closer to and potentially ahead of Honda’s performance at the “500”, Daly could be among the contenders.

Ed Carpenter

During his first start of 2022, Carpenter led four laps during the March 20 race at Texas Motor Speedway. He would finish 13th, the best effort of his five-race season. In his 19th Indianapolis 500 appearance, Carpenter started fourth and would finish 19th.

A three-time pole winner, Carpenter is set to run the “500” for a 20th consecutive season. Carpenter has not led at the race since leading seven laps 2019, when he started second and finished sixth.

Header Image (from left to right): Veekaay, Carpenter and Daly with their 2023 rides (Ed Carpenter Racing).