Sudden Impact: Driving Legend's Tips Provide Fast Results for Sting Ray Robb
Sting Ray Robb joined Juncos Hollinger Racing this offseason after spending his previous two NTT INDYCAR SERIES seasons with Dale Coyne Racing in 2023 and AJ Foyt Racing last year.
He is already benefiting from one of JHR's resources.
Robb strives to become a series mainstay but is aware he needs more than one top-10 finish in 34 previous starts to help that endeavor. So, he used a relationship that JHR team principal David O'Neill has in Europe to try and take the next step.
O'Neill was named to that position last May but has a background as a former team manager of Haas F1 Team. While working overseas, O'Neill developed a relationship with legendary driver coach Rob Wilson. O'Neill thought it would be a great step in Robb's progression as an NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver to head to England and get some of Wilson's magic teaching.
Robb received that mentorship between The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix on March 23 and last Sunday's 50th anniversary of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
'He's a legend,' Robb said of Wilson.
Wilson, a former racer from New Zealand, moved to England in the 1970s and became one of the most respected driver coaches in the world. He's mentored many prominent drivers with a clientele list that includes names like Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kimi Raikkonen, David Coulthard, Marco Andretti, Valtteri Bottas, Daniel Ricciardo, Nico Rosberg and Valentino Rossi, among others.
'He's still quick in a car, thankfully,' Robb said.
In his first race after Wilson's guidance, Robb tied his best career NTT INDYCAR SERIES finish by placing ninth at Long Beach. Robb also finished ninth last August on the World Wide Technology Raceway oval.
Robb, who started 19th, charged forward, gaining at least one position on track in 23 of the 90 laps, ranking second-best among the 27-car field in that category.
'That's what I needed,' Robb said. 'Every little thing matters in this sport. I think it's crazy to think that you can do it all on your own and just be some hotshot thinking you don't need it. I'm not good enough to do that.
'So, I'm not going to tap myself on the back by any means but having the humility to come forward into the year based off the last two years of challenging seasons and just trust the group around me, trust in the legend of Rob Wilson, if you will. No doubt that that guy is who he is for a reason. He's a legend in his own right.'
As far as Wilson's methods, Robb said he puts drivers in the worst car available to teach them the art of handling.
'If you can drive those cars, then you can drive anything,' Robb said. 'That's sort of the theory, but it's not just the brake later, hit the gas stuff. It's how you approach the car, how you approach the track – he does a good job, and he's worked with some great guys like this before. How he does things is very simple, and he's definitely one of those guys whom you can sit and have a conversation with. Conversations are going to teach you as much as sitting in the car next to him, too'
Robb also said Wilson confirmed the tendencies he already had behind the wheel were correct. That assurance provided Robb plenty of confidence leading into Long Beach, and that paid off with a career result.
Robb also got some clarity with family history during the trip to the United Kingdom, too. While visiting England, he took some time to be a tourist with his wife, Molly. They toured London, Paddington, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and more.
Best of all, the Robbs traveled to Scotland.
Many associate Robb's name with the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. His dad is a Corvette enthusiast, which inspired Sting Ray's given name at birth. However, that's only part of the background.
The 'Sting' part of his name is also short for Stirlingshire, Scotland, from where his dad's ancestors hail. Robb, born in Payette, Idaho, never had visited Scotland. This was a prime opportunity to experience a country that means so much to his heritage.
'I told Molly, 'I don't care what we do, I have my two days of driving, and I want to see Stirlingshire,'' he said. 'Have to. Once we do that, we can do whatever else. I don't care what it is.'
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