Sting Ray Robb is looking forward to a new challenge with Chevrolet-powered challengers in IndyCar, having signed with Juncos Hollinger Racing. The Idaho native discussed his previous experiences in the championship ahead of the beginning of the 2025 season.
Robb assess his first year with Chevrolet power
2024 was his first experience driving a Chevy-powered car for AJ Foyt. Robb looked back at his sophomore season, acknowledging the progress made comparing to his rookie year, but reflecting on the importance of the small issues which prevented him to extract the most potential out of his car.
He led 23 laps at the Indy 500 as going off on a different strategy led to a spell at the front. Robb bagged his first top 10 finish in the series with a P9 at Gateway.
“I think that there was a lot that was improved on last year. I may not have showed it all the different times. But there was a lot of little mistakes that really I cost us some good results last year.
“The most obvious ones were in St. Pete, the brake failure there, Barber Motorsports Park, the steering wheel failure there, and then engine failure at Toronto — not engine but actually another mechanical failure.”
He also highlighted his main goal for the upcoming season, which will be to perform at the same high level for the entirety of the race weekend.
“It was just all those little details that kept catching us out, and I think that is where I am looking forward to improve most this year, is be consistent. Obviously have some better speed; qualifying is a big part of that. Hopefully we can do that.”
Different driving style for different challengers
Robb was also asked by Pit Debrief on the main differences he has noticed over the span of his career between Honda and Chevrolet machines.
In fact, he had debuted in the 2023 season with Dale Coyne Racing before heading to Foyt in 2024. The young driver went into details on the different behaviour these cars have regarding power application. Robb also reckoned that in the end they’re both extremely competitive thus it’s rather easy to adapt to one of the other.
“I think that the transition for me was a bit easier than I was expecting. Both programs are very, very good, and it’s great to have them both in INDYCAR racing. I think the biggest difference for me and my driving style was sort of the focus on where they gather the speed from.
“A lot of times you’ll see a difference in the torque curve of each engine, and one can be better than the other depending on what circuit you’re at. I think that the biggest difference is how the power is applied. Oftentimes it leads to certain speeds on certain parts of the racetrack than others.
“The Chevy and Honda, they’re both very competitive, very well matched, and I think the Chevy this last year especially had a little bit more torque or horsepower at the top end so we saw them be so quick on the ovals. So we’ll see what it’s like this year. It’s always a give and take and they’re always moving the needle forward, so we’ll see who comes out on top,” he concluded while recalling the rather positive performance him and his past team, at the time led by Michael Cannon, were able to achieve at ovals.
Reunion
It’s not the first time Robb partners with a team featuring Ricardo Juncos. In fact, he had made his Indy Lights debut in 2021 with Juncos Hollinger Racing. The American driver looked back at those early days of his career, expressing his satisfaction with the fact he has managed to achieve his dream of racing in the top single seaters championship.
“I’ve grown quite a bit. Obviously I’m a little bit older now, a little bit wrinklier maybe, but at the end of the day I think I’m in a much more mature spot. I’m in a much more confident spot. 2021 Sting Ray Robb was just a kid from Idaho trying to figure out what he was going to do with his INDYCAR dreams.
“I achieved those dreams now of being in INDYCAR now, so it’s on to the next step. We’re still dreaming big trying to do some good things,” Robb concluded, hinting at the even great achievements he wants to reach in the upcoming seasons on the IndyCar grid with JHR and Chevrolet.
