Juri Vips, a former Red Bull Junior Team driver, is set to return to the IndyCar Series with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) later this month. Vips will be competing at the Portland Grand Prix, driving a fourth entry for the team in the No. 75 Honda-powered car.
Vips Returns to Familiar Grounds
The 23-year-old Estonian driver is no stranger to the Portland circuit, as it was the site of his IndyCar debut last year. In that race, he finished in 18th place on the 12-turn, 1.964-mile road course. Vips will once again join the RLL team, racing alongside teammates Pietro Fittipaldi, Christian Lundgaard, and Graham Rahal. The No. 75 entry, sponsored by AMADA, was previously part of Takuma Sato’s one-off appearance at the Indianapolis 500 earlier this year.
Vips expressed his excitement about the opportunity to race again with the team: “I’m very grateful to the team for giving me this opportunity. It’s been a year since I was in the car, but I’m confident that the experience gained last year at Portland and Laguna Seca will help me to get up to speed quickly.”
Building on Previous Experience
This race will mark Vips’ third career start in the IndyCar Series. His last outing was at the 2022 season finale at Laguna Seca, where he nearly made it into the Firestone Fast Six qualifying round before an engine change penalty placed him 13th on the grid. Unfortunately, his race ended early after he was caught in a multi-car collision on the opening lap, leaving him classified in 24th place.
Vips has been steadily working with RLL since then, contributing to their simulator program to help the team better understand the hybrid systems used in modern IndyCar races. His previous tests with RLL included:
- Sebring International Raceway: October 12, 2022
- Barber Motorsports Park: March 12, 2023
These tests helped Vips acclimate to the nuances of IndyCar driving, providing valuable data for both him and the team.
Team Confidence in Vips’ Abilities
Team owner Bobby Rahal praised Vips for his potential and his contributions to the team, particularly in simulator work. “Juri showed at both Portland and Laguna Seca last year that he has the pace to compete in any event he runs with us,” Rahal stated. “He has done a lot of work for us in the simulator this year, which has helped us understand the hybrid system, so it’s nice to reward him for his effort.”
Rahal hinted that this opportunity could open the door for more races with RLL in the future, depending on Vips’ performance and growth within the team.