Zach Veach to Drive for Andretti Autosport in 2018

By Christopher DeHarde, IndyCar & Road to Indy Writer

Zach Veach is coming home.

After racing with Andretti Autosport in the Mazda Road to Indy in 2010-2014, the Ohio native will compete full time for the Indianapolis-based team in the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series.

Veach will be piloting the No. 26 Honda replacing the departing Takuma Sato in a four car lineup. Sponsors are yet to be announced.

“I’ve been thinking about this day since St. Petersburg in 2010 when I sat beside Michael Andretti announcing that I’d be competing in USF2000 for his team,’’ said Veach in a team release. “To be driving in the Verizon IndyCar series with them is a dream come true.”

This is not Veach’s first foray into an IndyCar seat. Veach substituted for JR Hildebrand at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park after Hildebrand broke a bone in his hand at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Veach would finish 19th at Barber but was on the lead lap at the end of the race and ahead of teammate Spencer Pigot.

After Barber, Veach drove the No. 40 IWIT Chevrolet for AJ Foyt Racing in the Indianapolis 500 where his day ended early after an alternator issue caused the car to stop under caution. Veach was credited with a 26th place finish.

While driving for Andretti Autosport in the Mazda Road to Indy, Veach scored four wins with one in USF2000 and three in Indy Lights. Veach finished third for the team in the 2014 Indy Lights championship.

Andretti’s all-American lineup also has Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Alexander Rossi, all having won for Andretti Autosport.