INDIANAPOLIS — Estonian driver Juri Vips will take over Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's No. 30 car for the rest of the season, the team announced Monday.

The car was left unoccupied after RLL fired Jack Harvey with three races left in the season. Conor Daly, who was let go from Ed Carpenter Racing in June, filled the No. 30 for the Bommarito 500 last weekend, finishing 16th.

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Vips has ample experience in open-wheel racing, driving in Formula 2, 3 and 4. He was a part of the Red Bull Junior Team and a reserve driver in Formula One but let go by the team after using a racial slur during an online game stream.

“I’m very pleased for the team to enter Juri in the Portland and Laguna Seca races," co-owner of RLL Bobby Rahal said. "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.”

Vips will race in the final two IndyCar races in September: Bitnile.com Grand Prix in Portland on Sept. 3 and the Firestone Grand Prix in Laguna Seca on Sept. 10.

While Vips has not raced an Indy car before, he has done multiple tests with RLL. He was second-fastest of a five-car test at Sebring International Raceway in October 2022 and participated in another test at Barber Motorsports Park in place of a then-sick Harvey in March.

"I’m super happy to get the opportunity with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and very thankful to Bobby, Mike and everyone at the team," Vips said in a statement. "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."

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Vips will team up with Graham Rahal's No. 15 and Christian Lundgaard's No. 45. The RLL team has recorded just one win this season with Lundgaard's top finish in Toronto.

The No. 30 Honda is barely hanging on to a spot in the Leader's Circle, in which the top 22 cars in the league get a $1 million payout. The No. 30 is 22nd with a one-point margin after Daly's 16th place finish in St. Louis.

For the last two races, Vips will be the one tasked with keeping the car in contention.

“I hope I can prove myself and most importantly get them into the Winners Circle, which is always my main mission," Vips said in the release. "I feel ready for these races, I think the tracks suit my experience and driving style and the car as well. I’ve already integrated myself with the team this year, doing some work for them on the simulator so I already know the people and feel very comfortable with everyone which is a big benefit for me as well."

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Juri Vips to drive No. 30 IndyCar for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in Portland, Laguna Seca