Zach Veach has to know the writing on the wall. The 2020 NTT INDYCAR Series season is a make or break year for the Ohio native. It’s the third and final season on his contract with Andretti Autosport following two less than desirable seasons in the No. 26 Honda, it’s time to improve. With Andretti expanding to five full time cars with Colton Herta coming back over and a stocked Indy Lights lineup for next year, his seat will be coveted.

So far, he’s well on his way to a contract extension.

Veach, qualified fifth and finished fourth in Saturday nights INDYCAR season opener at Texas. It was a career tying night as his previous best finish was also a fourth place run in Long Beach in 2018.

How good was he on Saturday? Since 2012, only five drivers have won an INDYCAR championship. They all started in the top six in the Genesys 300. Veach, was the odd man out in that group.

In the end, only three drivers have won a championship since 2015. They finished 1-2-3. Veach, was next best in fourth.

“Really, really good night here in the Gainbridge Honda,” said Veach after earning his second career top five finish. “I wanted to start 2020 off good because 2019 was so rough, and we came out here to Texas and got a top-four and started fifth. I’m just very happy.

“This kind of momentum will be great to go into the Indy GP and hopefully have the season we’ve been needing to have. The guys did an awesome job. My engineer Mark Bryant, the car was amazing and all my pit crew: They were awesome for everything, and that played a big part in a race with not many passes. I’m just happy and a big thank you to Andretti Autosport.”

Veach, had crashed in each of his previous two Texas starts. Now, amid all the uncertainty of tonight’s race, he’s the top Andretti driver.