Wikipedia

Zach Veach

Zachary E. Veach(born December 9, 1994) is anAmericanauto racingdriver.

Zach Veach
Veach at the2018 ABC Supply 500
NationalityUnited StatesAmerican
Born(1994-12-09)December 9, 1994(age 29)
Stockdale, Ohio,U.S.
IndyCar Seriescareer
47 races run over 4 years
Team(s)No. 26 (Andretti Autosport)
2019position18th
Best finish15th (2018)
First race2017Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama(Barber)
Last race2020Honda Indy 200 Race 2(Mid-Ohio)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 0 0
Previous series
2013-2014
2016
2012

2010-2011		Indy Lights

U.S. F2000 National Championship
Star Mazda Championship
Championship titles
2011
2012		U.S. F2000 Winterfest
Formula Car Challenge

Veach was named toCNN's list of "Intriguing People" in May 2010,[1]is the national spokesperson for FocusDriven, and released his first book,99 Things Teens Wish They Knew Before Turning 16onNBC'sThe Today Showon March 2, 2011.[2]

Racing career

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Early career

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Veach began racing at age 12 when he was "discovered" by formerIndyCar Seriesteam ownerSarah Fisher's dad, Dave Fisher. In 19 months Veach had gone from go-karts to the cockpit of an open-wheelFormula BMWmachine. Near the end of 2009, while testing a Formula BMW,Atlantic Championshipteam ownerEric Jensensigned Veach to his team for the2010 Atlantic Championship season.[3]In early March 2010, the Series halted operations.[4]

U.S. F2000 National Championship

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Veach in 2010

In his first year as a driver in theU.S. F2000 National Championshipfor Andretti Autosport, Veach had 10 top-five finishes and four podium results. Despite entering the series after the season-opener (St. Pete) and therefore missing out on two rounds of race points, he managed to finish fifth in the driver championship point standings. His performances also contributed to Andretti Autosport securing the team championship for the 2010 season. He was also named a semi-finalist forSports Illustrated's annualSports Kid of the Yearaward.

On December 9, Andretti Autosport announced they had re-signed Veach to again compete in the USF2000 National Championship and WinterFest in 2011.[5]

In January 2011, Veach won the2011 U.S. F2000 Winterfest– a winter race series held in Florida. Veach won two of the five races and won the title by six points over Andretti teammateSpencer Pigot.[6]Veach won the2011 U.S. F2000 National Championshipseason opener atSebring International Raceway.Veach finished fourth in series points.[7]

Star Mazda Championship

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Veach racing in Star Mazda atRoad Atlanta

Veach made hisStar Mazda Championshipdebut for Andretti Autosport atInfineon Racewayin August 2011. He also competed in the series' season finale atMazda Raceway Laguna Seca,[8]where he finished third. He competed in the full season for Andretti Autosport in the #77 car in2012,finishing tenth in points with a best finish of third atLucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

Indy Lights

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Veach moved up toIndy Lightswith Andretti Autosport in2013.Veach led the most laps and finished on the podium in third at theMilwaukee Mileand won the pole atAuto Club Speedwayon his way to seventh in points. He remained in the series and Andretti Autosport in2014.He collected three wins and nine podiums in 14 races to end third in the standings behindGabby ChavesandJack Harvey.After sitting out of the 2015 season due to an injury which required hand surgery, Veach returned to Indy Lights in2016withBelardi Auto Racing.[9]After a rough start, where he suffered a mechanical failure while dominating the first race in St. Petersburg, he went on to collect 3 wins as well as several podium finishes throughout the 18 race season.

During hisIndy Lightsracing career, Zach finished in the top 10 in 43 of the 44 races he competed in, or 97.73%.[10]

IndyCar Series

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Veach (left) atTexasin 2019

He made his IndyCar Series debut at the 2017Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabamaas a last-minute replacement driver for the injuredJ. R. Hildebrand.[11]Despite the short notice and a limited amount of time to become familiar with the car prior to the event, he managed to close the performance gap to teammateSpencer Pigotin each session, from 1.5 second behind in the first practice to 1.1 in the second, 0.8 in the third and just 0.5 in qualifying. Veach started 19th and ran as high as fourth in the race, after pitting off-sequence, before finishing in 19th place, the last car on the lead lap.[12]

Veach competed at the2017 Indianapolis 500forA. J. Foyt Enterprises,[13]placing 26th, when he retired on lap 155 with mechanical issues.

On September 11, 2017 it was announced that Veach had reached an agreement to driveAndretti Autosport's fourth IndyCar full-time for the2018 IndyCar Seriesseason. The contract was three years in length.[14]

On September 23, 2020, Andretti Autosport announced that Veach would be leaving the team ahead of the Harvest GP.[15]

IMSA

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For the 2021 season, Veach was signed by Vasser Sullivan Racing to drive a GTD-classLexus RCat theIMSA SportsCar Championship,partnering withFrankie Montecalvo.[16]

Distracted driving campaign

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Veach has been very outspoken about his interest in putting an end to distracted driving. On April 30, 2010, Veach attended the taping ofThe Oprah Winfrey Show's focus on theNo Phone Zoneprogram. At the program he met Jennifer Smith, founder and president of FocusDriven, the official beneficiary from Winfrey's No Phone Zone, and later became FocusDriven's national spokesperson. In May 2010, Veach campaigned to gain support from professional racecar drivers to support Winfrey's No Phone Zone.[17]Veach announced on June 4, 2010, he had added 33Indy 500drivers support of the No Phone Zone, including that ofDanica PatrickandHélio Castroneves,among others.[18]

In July 2010, Veach released an anti-texting app, urTXT, which automatically responds to a text message received by the phone.[19]

On September 21, 2010, Veach attended the 2010 National Distracted Driving Summit where he was honored byUnited States Secretary of TransportationRay LaHood,in addition to theJonas BrothersandJordin Sparksfor their collective efforts to put an end to distracted driving.[20]

Musical career

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Veach will star in theIndianapolis Opera's production ofGaetano Donizetti's comic operaElixir of Love,to be held in November 2019.[21]

Racing record

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U.S. F2000 National Championship

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Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
2010 Andretti Autosport STP STP ORP
4 		IOW
5 		NJM
4 		NJM
5 		ACC
7 		ACC
6 		ROA
3 		ROA
3 		ATL
2 		ATL
4 		5th 189
2011 Andretti Autosport SEB
1 		SEB
8 		STP
3 		STP
4 		ORP
2 		MIL
2 		MDO
5 		MDO
7 		ROA
3 		ROA
5 		BAL
12 		BAL
16 		4th 223

Star Mazda Championship

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Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points
2012 Andretti Autosport STP
17 		STP
11 		BAR
15 		BAR
10 		IND
3 		IOW
6 		TOR
2 		TOR
17 		EDM
9 		EDM
17 		TRO
8 		TRO
8 		BAL
8 		BAL
6 		LAG
11 		LAG
17 		ATL
8 		10th 199

Indy Lights

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Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Rank Points
2013 Andretti Autosport
AFS Racing 		STP
5 		ALA
9 		LBH
9 		INDY
5 		MIL
3* 		IOW
7 		POC
4 		TOR
7 		MDO
5 		BAL
8 		HOU
10 		FON
4 		7th 333
2014 Andretti Autosport STP
1* 		LBH
2 		ALA
1* 		ALA
3 		IND
9 		IND
7 		INDY
3 		POC
2 		TOR
5 		MDO
4 		MDO
2 		MIL
1 		SNM
7 		SNM
3 		3rd 520
2016 Belardi Auto Racing STP
16 		STP
3 		PHX
8 		ALA
3 		ALA
10 		IMS
5 		IMS
10 		INDY
10 		RDA
1 		RDA
3 		IOW
2 		TOR
9 		TOR
6 		MDO
5 		MDO
4 		WGL
1 		LAG
3 		LAG
1 		4th 332

IndyCar Series

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(key)

Year Team Chassis No. Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points Ref
2017 Ed Carpenter Racing Dallara DW12 21 Chevrolet STP LBH ALA
19 		PHX IMS 33rd 23 [22]
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 40 INDY
26 		DET DET TEX ROA IOW TOR MDO POC GTW WGL SNM
2018 Andretti Autosport 26 Honda STP
16 		PHX
16 		LBH
4 		ALA
13 		IMS
23 		INDY
23 		DET
12 		DET
13 		TXS
16 		ROA
22 		IOW
20 		TOR
7 		MDO
10 		POC
6 		GTW
5 		POR
19 		SNM
14 		15th 313 [23]
2019 STP
14 		COA
22 		ALA
12 		LBH
17 		IMS
12 		INDY
29 		DET
8 		DET
8 		TXS
20 		RDA
18 		TOR
13 		IOW
7 		MDO
21 		POC
13 		GTW
14 		POR
22 		LAG
18 		18th 271 [24]
2020 TXS
4 		IMS
14 		ROA
16 		ROA
16 		IOW
23 		IOW
20 		INDY
15 		GTW
21 		GTW
22 		MDO
20 		MDO
17 		IMS IMS STP
 21st 166 [25]

* Season still in progress.

Indianapolis 500

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Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
2017 Dallara Chevrolet 32 26 A. J. Foyt Enterprises
2018 Dallara Honda 25 23 Andretti Autosport
2019 Dallara Honda 28 29 Andretti Autosport
2020 Dallara Honda 17 15 Andretti Autosport

Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results

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(key) (Races inboldindicate pole position; races initalicsindicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
2021 Vasser Sullivan Racing GTD Lexus RC F GT3 Lexus5.0 L V8 DAY
13 		SEB
6 		MDO
2 		DET WGL
11 		WGL
2† 		LIM
10 		ELK
6 		LGA
10 		LBH
13 		VIR
13 		PET
3 		8th 2538

†Points only counted towards the WeatherTech Sprint Cup and not the overall GTD Championship.

References

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  1. ^Kernis, Jay.Wednesday's intriguing people,CNN,May 19, 2010
  2. ^Marks, Ginger.Veach to Release Book with the 99 SeriesArchived2011-07-07 at theWayback Machine,99-Series,May 01, 2010
  3. ^Atlantic: Jensen MotorSport signs 15-year-old driver,Racer,December 11, 2009
  4. ^Atlantic Championship forced to take hiatus[permanent dead link‍],Motorsport,March 03, 2010
  5. ^Andretti Autosport re-signs Zach Veach for USF2000,Racer Magazine,December 09, 2010
  6. ^Veach wins Cooper Tires Winterfest championshipArchived2012-03-16 at theWayback Machine,Racing Wire,January 14, 2011, Retrieved 2011-09-05
  7. ^Final 2011 Points StandingsArchived2012-03-30 at theWayback Machine,U.S. F2000,Retrieved 2011-09-05
  8. ^Veach steps up to Star Mazda,IndyCar,August 18, 2011, Retrieved 2011-09-05
  9. ^Veach joins Belardi for 2016Archived2015-11-28 at theWayback Machine,Racer,November 25, 2015, Retrieved 2015-12-02
  10. ^"The Official Site of the Road to Indy, Drivers, Schedule & Shop".Archived fromthe originalon 2017-11-17.Retrieved2017-11-16.
  11. ^2:49 p.m. ET April 18, 2017 (2016-10-20)."Zach Veach to replace injured JR Hildebrand at Barber".Indystar.Retrieved2017-04-19.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^"Zach Veach ticks all the right boxes in Barber debut weekend".24 April 2017.
  13. ^"Indycar Racing News | Racer - Veach to run Indy 500 with Foyt".Racer. Archived fromthe originalon 2017-04-08.Retrieved2017-04-08.
  14. ^Ayello, Jim.Zach Veach joining Andretti Autosport in 2018,Indianapolis Star,September 11, 2017, Retrieved 2017-09-12
  15. ^Pruett, Marshall.Veach parts with Andretti ahead of Harvest GP,Racer,September 23, 2020, Retrieved 2020-09-23
  16. ^Pruett, Marshall (14 January 2021)."Megennis joins Vasser Sullivan endurance line-up".racer.Racer Media & Marketing Inc.RetrievedJanuary 14,2021.
  17. ^15 Year-Old Racer Zach Veach To Campaign For Oprah Winfrey’s No Phone Zone By Adding The Indy 500′s 33 Drivers To Her Petition,Catchfence,May 13, 2010
  18. ^33 Indy 500 Drivers Join Oprah Winfreys No Phone ZoneArchived2011-07-19 at theWayback Machine,paddocktalk,June 04, 2010
  19. ^Drell, Lauren.Zach Veach: A 15-Year-Old Takes on Texting and DrivingArchived2010-09-28 at theWayback Machine,AOL Small Business,Sept. 23, 2010
  20. ^Racer Zach Veach Participates in National Distracted Driving Summit with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood[permanent dead link‍],SPEEDtv,Sept. 21, 2010
  21. ^Andretti Autosport (30 October 2019)."ZACH VEACH TO STAR IN INDIANAPOLIS OPERA'S ELIXIR OF LOVE".Andretti Autosport.Retrieved7 November2019.
  22. ^"Zach Veach – 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedAugust 1,2023.
  23. ^"Zach Veach – 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedAugust 1,2023.
  24. ^"Zach Veach – 2019 NTT IndyCar Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedAugust 1,2023.
  25. ^"Zach Veach – 2020 NTT IndyCar Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedAugust 1,2023.
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