Inside Hurco blog: news and events from CNC machine company

14th: Conor Daly No. 20 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet

21st Rinus Veekay No. 21 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet

Next Race: PPG 375 at Texas Motor Speedway | April 2 (NBC, 12 p.m. ET)

CONOR DALY, NO. 20 BITNILE.COM CHEVROLET

Conor Daly, No. 20 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet, Finished 14th:  “The race was playing out how we wanted. We got really lucky to avoid that first crash, which was one of the craziest things I have ever seen in my life. I felt strong, running with Rinus (VeeKay) and Josef (Newgarden). Then we just got taken out by Kyle Kirkwood. It was such a shame to get spun like that, but we hung on and kept fighting. The BITNILE.COM Chevrolet had good pace all day. On to the next one!" (Photo provided by ECR, courtesy of INDYCAR Photo)

(Photo provided by ECR)

Race Results:

Start: 24th

Finish: 14th

Status: Running

Laps Completed: 99/100

Of Note:

• Though improvements were made to the No. 20 BITNILE.COM across all three practice sessions, Conor Daly started 26th in today’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. He deftly avoided a major accident in the opening corners of the race, gaining six positions as he cleared the scene. The race was red flagged while the track was cleared and as soon as the pits opened, Daly came in for a set of black Firestone Firehawks after starting on the new green tires. 

• Daly had just completed his second pit stop when he was struck by Kyle Kirkwood on Lap 37 and made contact in Turn 9. Once the car was re-fired, he brought it around the circuit and into he pit lane for repairs. With a front wing change and a set of fresh Firehawks, Daly rejoined the field. 

• Though he was a lap down, Daly persevered. His determination paid off and he continued to gain positions as other cars fell out of the race. By the checkered flag, he was up to 14th and finished 12 spots higher than where he started.

RINUS VEEKAY, NO. 21 BITNILE.COM CHEVROLET

Rinus Veekay, No. 21 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet, Finished 21st: "It’s so tricky out there. I am okay and I just hope that Jack Harvey will be okay, too. Josef (Newgarden) was a little on the inside and I was an inch into the marbles and you just run out of grip. We want to finish the first race of the year to be able to carry the momentum. I am really bummed for the guys and for BITNILE.COM. We had the pace and were doing very well. Time to focus on Texas next." (Photo provided by ECR, courtesy of INDYCAR Photo)

(Photo provided by ECR)

Race Results:

Start: 24th

Finish: 21st

Status: Running

Laps Completed: 99/100

Of Note:

• Rinus VeeKay was one of the fastest cars in the practice sessions leading up to qualifying, setting the 6th and 3rd fastest laps, respectively. During qualifications, his flying lap was interrupted by a slow-moving car and he had to settle for a 24th position on today’s starting grid.

• VeeKay made it through a multi-car incident on Lap 1, gaining six positions. After the red flag was lifted, he made his first pit stop on Lap 3 to switch from alternate green Firestone Firehawks to primary black tires. He cycled into the Top 10 on Lap 30 and pitted from 5th on his second stop.

• After his Lap 35 pit stop, he was running 14th. However, VeeKay became entangled in another multi-car accident on Lap 41. The No. 21 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet was moved behind the wall and VeeKay was retired from the event, scoring a 21st place finish.

About Ed Carpenter Racing
Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) first entered the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2012. The Indianapolis-based race team has proven its versatility by collecting eight wins across each type of track the series competes on – street and road courses, short ovals and speedways. ECR is led by IndyCar’s only team owner/driver, Ed Carpenter, three-time pole winner for the Indianapolis 500 (2013, 2014 and 2018). The 2023 season will see the team continue to compete with two full-time entries: the No. 20 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet with Conor Daly behind the wheel and the No. 21 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet, driven by Rinus VeeKay. Carpenter will round out the team’s three-car effort on the ovals, campaigning the No. 33 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet. More information may be found at http://www.edcarpenterracing.com/.


Media Contact
Brie Rentz
Ed Carpenter Racing
brie.rentz@edcarpenterracing.com
765-210-2646

Our co-founder, Gerald V. Roch, inventor, innovator, pioneer, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, died at the end of 2020. Due to the pandemic, the ceremony commemorating his incredible life was delayed until late summer of 2021. Below are the video interviews with Mr. Roch that were conducted to commemorate the 45^th Anniversary of Hurco in 2013. While Mr. Roch wasn’t directly involved with Hurco for years, his legacy of continuous innovation to make job shops more efficient and more profitable is the foundation of the company he started in 1968. All of us at Hurco are appreciative of the culture he built. I hope you enjoy these interviews.

Ed Carpenter Racing's Rinus VeeKay WINS GMR Grand Prix Race at IMS 



20-Year-Old Wins First NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race on the IMS Road Course

Team Victory Picture with their HURCO Hats.

(INDIANAPOLIS) May 14, 2021 – Rinus VeeKay is now a winner at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, claiming the victory in today’s GMR Grand Prix. The 20-year-old earned his first career NTT INDYCAR SERIES win on the IMS road course by almost a five-second margin. The Dutch driver became the sixth-youngest winner in INDYCAR history in only his 19th start. His victory is the first for Ed Carpenter Racing at IMS and the team’s first since the summer of 2016.

VeeKay was fast all weekend, finishing 3rd, 2nd and 1st in the three practice sessions before the race. However, he was slightly disappointed following yesterday’s qualifications where he only earned the 7th staring position for his No. 21 SONAX Chevrolet. VeeKay started the GMR Grand Prix on Firestone’s black Firehawk tires, allowing him to complete the race on the alternate red tires. He used the extra grip from his second set of reds to pass pole sitter Romain Grosjean on Lap 44, which would prove to be the decisive move of the race. VeeKay paced the field for 33 laps, taking the lead for good on Lap 65 of 85.

“I knew we had the car; we were so fast. I’m so happy for the ECR team, so thankful. I couldn’t have done it without them. A perfect day. It’s amazing!” exclaimed VeeKay. “Getting my first podium here last year and now winning, it’s a dream.”

Now home to his first victory, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was already the location of several of VeeKay’s career milestones. In just his second NTT INDYCAR SERIES start last July, VeeKay earned his first Top 5 finish in the GMR Grand Prix. When he returned to IMS in August, he recorded the best qualifying result by a teenager in Indianapolis 500 history (4th) and was the fastest rookie in the field. In October, he won his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES pole position, led the first laps of his Indy car career and earned his first podium finish on the IMS road course.

ECR owner Ed Carpenter is thrilled for his young driver and his team. “We’ve seen this win coming for a while with the way he’s driven over the last year and the start of this season,” stated Carpenter. “The team was great with strategy, but hats off to Rinus for doing everything he needed to do today. He didn’t put a wheel wrong and stayed cool under pressure when he got out front. It’s always nice to get that first win and I’m guessing he will see more of them before too long. Very happy – happy me!”

The race was caution-free after an opening lap incident that involved teammate Conor Daly. Daly’s No. 20 MannKind Chevrolet was damaged and pulled behind the Turn 7 wall. The crew quickly made repairs and Daly rejoined the race, taking the checkered flag in the 25th position.

Attention will now turn to the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Three-time pole winner Carpenter will temporarily hand over his ownership responsibilities and focus on driving the No. 20 SONAX Chevrolet. As Carpenter steps into the No. 20, Daly will shift to the No. 47 U.S. Air Force Chevrolet. VeeKay’s car will switch to a brand-new orange and black Bitcoin scheme, which will be seen for the first time when IMS opens for “500” practice on Tuesday, May 18.

About Ed Carpenter Racing
Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) will be entering its 10th season of NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition in 2021. The Indianapolis-based race team has proven its versatility by collecting seven wins across each type of track the series competes on – street and road courses, short ovals and speedways. ECR is led by IndyCar’s only team owner/driver, Ed Carpenter, three-time pole winner for the Indianapolis 500 (2013, 2014 and 2018). In 2021, Indiana natives Carpenter and Conor Daly will share the No. 20 Chevrolet as Carpenter drives the oval races and Daly takes over for the road and street course events. Both will be entered in the Indianapolis 500 alongside 2020 Rookie of the Year Rinus VeeKay, full-time driver of the No. 21 Chevrolet. ECR made its eSports debut in the 2020 iRX World Championship with Jim Beaver eSports. More information may be found at http://www.edcarpenterracing.com/.


Media Contact
Brie Rentz
Ed Carpenter Racing
brie.rentz@edcarpenterracing.com
765-210-2646

VeeKay Qualifies 3rd for Next Sunday’s Race; ECR Team Owner Ed Carpenter Will Start 4th

INDIANAPOLIS (May 23, 2021) – Indianapolis 500 Fast Nine Qualifying Notes

– Rinus VeeKay cultivated another career milestone this afternoon as he has become the youngest front row qualifier in Indianapolis 500 history. The 20-year-old earned the 3rd starting spot for next Sunday’s race, placing an ECR car on the front row for the 7th time in nine years.

– A mere .0047 of a second separated VeeKay from team owner Ed Carpenter, who will start 4th in the 2021 Indianapolis 500. VeeKay’s four-lap average was 231.511 miles per hour, versus Carpenter’s speed of 231.504 mph. It will be the 6th time Carpenter has had a Top 10 start at Indianapolis in the past nine years.

– Ed Carpenter Racing’s first season of NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition was 2012, making the 2021 Indianapolis 500 the team’s 10th. For nine of those 10 years, ECR has had at least one car qualify in the first three rows. Excluding 2015, when the Firestone Fast Nine was cancelled due to weather, ECR has been in every Fast Nine since 2013. For the second year in a row, ECR was the only Chevrolet-powered team in the Fast Nine.



RINUS VEEKAY, No. 21 Bitcoin Chevrolet, Qualified 3rd: “I had a big moment on the last lap, in the first corner. I never lifted, but when I think back, maybe I should have! That last lap was the sketchiest lap I’ve ever done, but I kept my foot on the gas. I wanted it to be as on the limit as possible, so I kept the power on, even with all the wiggling. I knew Turn 1 would be the trickiest so once I got through, I thought it would be fine. Honestly, I couldn’t have gone any faster. I was happy to make the Fast Nine yesterday and now to have Chevy power taking me to the front row! I’m very happy for the team and very grateful for all the sleepless nights and hard work. I love Indy, and with the No. 21 Bitcoin Chevrolet, it’s such a pleasure. I have a great car and a great team around me, so I think we can go for the win next Sunday. The win last week has changed the spirit within the team and we are all extremely motivated. The entire month of May has been amazing.”

– Rinus VeeKay made two qualifying runs yesterday, his second with a four-lap average of 231.483 mph. It vaulted him from 12th to 5th, where he stayed for the duration of the day. Positions 1-9 at the end of the day advanced to today’s Firestone Fast Nine. The cars were inverted, with yesterday’s fastest qualifier going out last today. VeeKay was the 4th car to go out on the track, putting up a four-lap average of 231.511 mph. It would be good enough for 3rd overall today, placing him on the outside of the front row for next Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.

– VeeKay is the most recent winner in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, claiming his first career victory last Saturday on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. His sophomore season is off to a strong start, having scored four Top 10 finishes in five races. Those results have come on each type of track the NTT INDYCAR SERIES competes on, being a road course, a street course and an oval.

– ECR has partnered with Strike to fundraise on behalf of the Bitcoin community and support all necessary on-track activities for the Month of May. Strike will handle all payments and donations for the effort through its lighting network and payment application. The Bitcoin car is for the people and supported by the people. A unique QR code on each of ECR’s cars enables the world’s first peer-to-car contribution model allowing anyone in the world to donate. Bitcoin has a fixed supply at 21 million with no more to ever be made and ECR is honored to represent Bitcoin on the No. 21.



ED CARPENTER, No. 20 SONAX Chevrolet, Qualified 4th: “I’m happy we were in the hunt and we have a car on the front row! Both of our cars were extremely close and that small gap between the two cars is a testament to ECR and the quality of cars that they build. It’s tough competition, whether it’s Honda versus Chevy or the two of us going against Scott Dixon and Colton Herta. We had all the power we needed to fight for the pole, they were just a little better than us today. There are so many great drivers in the series, it’s awesome to compete against them and we love the challenge. At the end of the day, we’re happy with where we’re starting the Indy 500. Rinus is the real deal, I’m proud of him. He’s a resilient kid, he learns and keeps getting better. He’s going to be tough to beat next Sunday, I’m as worried about him as anyone. But we’ll be in a great spot for the race, with my teammate in front of me, so we’ll tune up the car today and Carb Day and be ready for next Sunday.”

– Ed Carpenter made sure he earned himself a position in today’s Fast Nine Shootout. His four-lap average yesterday was 231.616 mph, landing him solidly in the 4th position. He was the fifth car to go out today, right after VeeKay. As the No. 20 and 21 crews looked on, Carpenter put up a four-lap average of 231.504. It would be the equivalent of .007 mph less than VeeKay, giving Carpenter the 4th starting position for his 18th Indianapolis 500.

– Carpenter is one of the most experienced drivers in the field, now in his 19th season of NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition. He is the only individual who handles both the responsibility of driving and owning his own team. The Indianapolis native solidified his status as a hometown favorite by winning the pole position in 2013 and 2014; in 2018, he became just the 10th driver to collect three or more Indy 500 poles in the century-plus history of the race. Two of his strongest finishes have come in recent years, including a runner-up finish after leading the most laps in 2018.

– With the No. 21 competing as the Bitcoin Chevrolet in the Indianapolis 500, the SONAX USA scheme campaigned by VeeKay in the first five races of the seasons has transferred over to Carpenter’s No. 20. SONAX Car Care is an innovative manufacturer of premium car care products for optimum maintenance, protection and rejuvenation of vehicles. All products are developed and manufactured in Neuburg, Germany, where SONAX was founded over 50 years ago. Today, the brand is represented in 80 countries around the world and is available in the U.S. through car care superstore Autogeek.com.



CONOR DALY, No. 47 U.S. Air Force Chevrolet, Qualified 19th: “It was a good day for the team. Two cars in the Fast Nine, which is awesome for our teammates. After the discomfort that I had on Friday, we just missed it yesterday. I never lifted all day but we just didn’t have the team. That’s partially on me, but the team has given us a great car. It’s an incredible machine, really we have three incredible cars. Clearly we are the fastest Chevy team, so that feels good. We know we have a good racecar, so we will focus on that!”

– Conor Daly’s starting position was determined during yesterday’s qualifying session. The 29-year-old’s average speed over his first four laps was 230.427 mph, which had him 18th overall. A few hours later, he returned to the track in his No. 47 U.S. Air Force Chevrolet for a second attempt. Daly remained 18th, but was bumped down one position as drivers made runs in the final hours of the day. As positions 10-33 were locked in at the end of Saturday, he will start next Sunday’s 500-mile race from the 19th position.

– Daly is another hometown favorite as he was born and raised in nearby Noblesville, Ind. Daly is well-prepared for his 8th Indianapolis 500, having set Top 5 times while running in traffic in three of four practice sessions this week. In addition to stepping into ECR’s third entry for the Indianapolis 500, Daly drives ECR’s No. 20 in the road and street course events and raced Carlin’s No. 59 entry in the Texas Motor Speedway doubleheader earlier this month.

– Beginning as a one-off 2018 Indianapolis 500 entry, Daly and the U.S. Air Force have grown to be synonymous in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Daly and ECR work alongside the U.S. Air Force to inspire young adults, communicate the service’s mission and build awareness about career opportunities. Daly’s Indy 500 car design is inspired by the Tuskegee Airmen’s P-51 Mustang used during World War II. The iconic red tail and the red and yellow stripes on the nose of the aircraft are prominent on the cars. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first black military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps, a precursor of the U.S. Air Force.

Rinus VeeKay Will Drive No. 21 Bitcoin Chevrolet in the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500



“If you don’t believe it or don’t get it, I don’t have the time to try to convince you, sorry.”
Satoshi Nakamoto

(INDIANAPOLIS) May 12, 2021 – Ed Carpenter Racing announced today that the team will enter the No. 21 Bitcoin Chevrolet for Rinus VeeKay in this year's Indianapolis 500. ECR will also be the first NTT INDYCAR SERIES team to integrate Bitcoin as a payment option for all of its employees. The first decentralized sponsorship in the history of racing will empower not only ECR on the track but the Bitcoin community off. In addition to the No. 21’s black and orange scheme, Bitcoin will be present on ECR’s other Indianapolis 500 entries.

ECR is in its 10th season of competition in 2021 and is led by the only owner/driver in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Ed Carpenter. “I could not be more excited that this project is becoming a reality. To bring my personal interest and immersion in Bitcoin to our industry is historic,” stated Carpenter. “Just as Bitcoin is revolutionizing our financial system, I see it as an opportunity to transform how we operate within our own motorsport industry.”

Ed Carpenter Racing has partnered with Strike to fundraise on behalf of the Bitcoin community and support all necessary on-track activities for the Month of May. Strike will handle all payments and donations for the effort through its lighting network and payment application. The Bitcoin car is for the people and supported by the people. A unique QR code enables the world’s first peer-to-car contribution model allowing anyone in the world to donate. Bitcoin has a fixed supply at 21 million with no more to ever be made and ECR is honored to represent Bitcoin on the No. 21.

“Ed’s message is simple; he doesn’t want to race for potato chips or soft drinks at the Indy 500,” stated Jack Mallers, founder of Strike. “This year, Ed is racing for human freedom, financial literacy, financial inclusivity, and is using the platform he's earned throughout his career to promote the most powerful message possible in pushing humanity forward. We're tremendously proud to support his efforts.”

Born in Hoofddorp, Netherlands, Rinus van Kalmthout launched his U.S. career in 2017 driving as Rinus VeeKay. After a meteoric rise through the Road to Indy program, VeeKay joined ECR and earned the 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year title. By starting 4th in his first Indianapolis 500 last August, he recorded the best qualifying result by a teenager in Indianapolis 500 history and was the fastest rookie in the field. Later in his debut season, he won his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES pole position, led the first laps of his Indy car career and earned his first podium finish on the IMS road course, where he will race this weekend in the GMR Grand Prix. Now 20 years old, VeeKay's second season has started off with 3 Top 10 finishes in three weekends, each coming on a different kind of track.

Carpenter continued, “With the power of the Bitcoin community backing ECR in our 10th season of competition, our team is more than ready to attack the Indy 500 and capture our first Borg Warner Trophy. We want to kiss the bricks, drink the milk, then watch Bitcoin race past $100k!”

With the No. 21 competing as the Bitcoin Chevrolet in the Indianapolis 500, the SONAX USA scheme campaigned by VeeKay in the first five races of the seasons will transfer over to Carpenter's No. 20. Carpenter, an Indianapolis native, is one of only 10 drivers in the 100-plus year history of the Indy 500 to win three or more pole positions. His best career finish of second came after starting from the coveted first spot in 2018 race. An ECR Chevrolet has qualified in the Top 9 every year since 2013, with at least one car starting from the front row for six of those years. The Indianapolis-based team's three-car lineup will be rounded out by another hometown favorite, Conor Daly, driving the No. 47 U.S. Air Force Chevrolet.

VeeKay will take his first laps in the No. 21 Bitcoin Chevrolet when the Indianapolis Motor Speedway opens for Indy 500 practice on Tuesday, May 18. Practice will continue through Friday May 21, before the Field of 33 qualifies on Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23. The 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will take place on Sunday, May 30, 2021 with coverage beginning at 11 a.m. ET on NBC.


To contribute, you can visit Strike.me/racing, scan the QR code on the car with any bitcoin wallet, or email racing@strike.me if you’re interested in a larger contribution.




Ed Carpenter Racing will enter the No. 21 Bitcoin Chevrolet for Rinus VeeKay in this year's Indianapolis 500. ECR has partnered with Strike to fundraise on behalf of the Bitcoin community and support all necessary on-track activities for the Month of May. The 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will take place on Sunday, May 30, 2021 with coverage beginning at 11 a.m. ET on NBC.


About Ed Carpenter Racing
Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) will be entering its 10th season of NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition in 2021. The Indianapolis-based race team has proven its versatility by collecting seven wins across each type of track the series competes on – street and road courses, short ovals and speedways. ECR is led by IndyCar’s only team owner/driver, Ed Carpenter, three-time pole winner for the Indianapolis 500 (2013, 2014 and 2018). In 2021, Indiana natives Carpenter and Conor Daly will share the No. 20 Chevrolet as Carpenter drives the oval races and Daly takes over for the road and street course events. Both will be entered in the Indianapolis 500 alongside 2020 Rookie of the Year Rinus VeeKay, full-time driver of the No. 21 Chevrolet. ECR made its eSports debut in the 2020 iRX World Championship with Jim Beaver eSports. More information may be found at http://www.edcarpenterracing.com/.


Media Contact
Brie Rentz
Ed Carpenter Racing
brie.rentz@edcarpenterracing.com
765-210-2646