Estonian races Juri Vips will pilot the No. 30 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda for the final two NTT IndyCar Series races of the championship at Portland and Laguna Seca.

The 23-year-old is the latest to drive the car vacated by Jack Harvey following the Gallagher Grand Prix on August 12th. Conor Daly stood in last weekend’s contest at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Vips scored three wins in Formula 2 from 2020 through 2022 with a best result of sixth in the championship in 2021. He tested for RLL at Barber Motorsports Park last October and has done static simulator testing throughout the year for the team.

“I’m super happy to get the opportunity with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and very thankful to Bobby, Mike and everyone at the team,” he said.

“I haven’t been driving all year so the anticipation for this opportunity has been immense but I’m really looking forward to starting again. We tested together at the end of 2022 in Sebring and it seemed like we just gelled. I got along with everyone and I really like the atmosphere at the team. Bobby’s also one to give second chances and I’m extremely grateful that he is giving me one and I really hope to bring a good result for him, Mike and the whole team.”

“I’m very pleased for the team to enter Juri in the Portland and Laguna Seca races,” said Bobby Rahal, team owner. “Clearly, he was the lead Red Bull Junior driver a few years ago and exhibited a lot of talent, which we saw during the two tests he ran with us so we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do on a race weekend.”