Rinus van Kalmthout looks back on qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 with an excellent feeling. The Dutchman from Ed Carpenter Racing finished third and will start the prestigious American race from the front row on Sunday.
“I’m quite proud,” said ‘VeeKay’ after his four rounds in the so-called ‘Fast Six’. “It was my best four laps of the weekend. I am proud of Ed Carpenter Racing for being so good for the third year in a row and for bringing the team to the front row for the fifth time in six years. “
21-year-old Van Kalmthout already showed his best side on Saturday. On the first qualifying day, the Hoofddorp driver recorded the third fastest speed ever driven in a qualifying session at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with an average of 233.655 miles per hour.
The icing on the cake did not come on Sunday – pole position went to Scott Dixon with the highest average speed for pole ever – but Van Kalmthout does not mourn that. “It definitely doesn’t feel like a pole position mistake. Don’t forget that there are 33 riders in this event and I can just start from the front row.”
Rinus van Kalmthout will start the Indy 500 on Sunday from third place.
Rinus van Kalmthout will start the Indy 500 on Sunday from third place. Photo: AP
‘Go do my very best to earn a bottle of milk’
It is the third year in a row that Van Kalmthout has managed to impress in qualifying for the Indy 500. In 2020 and 2021 he started fourth and third respectively, although the Dutchman knows that a good qualifying offers no guarantees.
“Starting position 3 is fantastic, but of course the race is only next Sunday. In addition, we have two hundred laps of 2.5 miles, where anything can happen. I’m really looking forward to it and I’m going to do my very best to get that bottle to earn milk,” says Van Kalmthout.
It’s tradition at the Indy 500 for the winner to get (and drink) a bottle of milk. The race, which will be held on the same day as the Monaco Formula 1 race, starts on Sunday at 6.30 pm.