Intro To IndyCar - Meyer Shank Racing - Pt 1 - Team
Welcome back to my Intro to IndyCar series! Now we're hitting the middle of the pack of teams.
Next is Meyer Shaking Racing, one of the younger teams. Michael Shank, one of the owners, started his career in 1989. He raced in various series, and eventually transitioned to being a team owner.
Focusing on IndyCar, MSR attempted to join in 2012. They purchased a chassis with a Lotus engine. Fully funded for the 500 by Jim Beam whiskey. Unfortunately, the Lotus engine was a bust and they were unable to lease a competitive engine and unable to compete. They sold the chassis to SP Motorsports (now competing as Arrow McLaren) in February 2013.
Eventually, an entry materialized in 2017, partnering with Andretti and running Jack Harvey in the 500.
Following that, in 2018 they partnered with SP Motorsports (now Arrow McLaren) to run Jack Harvey for six races.
After that, 2019 had them run ten races with Jack. Their first podium was at IMS.
Moving in 2020, Liberty Media (of F1 fame), acquired a minority stake. This allowed MSR to run a full season. Albeit the 2020 season was abbreviated, they ran every race, finishing in fifteenth for the season, middle of the pack!
2021 was a unique year for MSR. Harvey ran the full season, and they also hosted previous champion and 500 winner Hélio Castroneves for the 500.
That year, Castroneves and the MSR team ended up on the top step in Indianapolis. This was Castroneves's fourth 500 win, and his first since his time with Team Penske in 2009.
Harvey spent his final full season with MSR finishing in 13th place. After this, he ended up going to RLL.
2022 had Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud run full seasons with MSR. One podium for Pagenaud, they finished 15th and 18th.
Like Andretti and McLaren, 2023 was a very rough year for MSR. Both Castroneves and Pagenaud continued with MSR this year. However, Pagenaud was withdrawn after an accident at Mid-Ohio. His replacements were varied, including Conor Daly, Tom Blomqvist and 2024 Rookie of the Year Linus Lundqvist.
2024 was a pivot point for MSR. Transferring over from Arrow McLaren was 2019's Rookie of the Year Felix Rosenqvist. He generated MSR's strongest performance overall, placing 12th in the championship and generating some much needed Winner's Circle money. Rookie Tom Blomqvist lasted five races, replaced by Castroneves for two raes, and then David Malukas to finish out the season.
So far in 2025, with the lineup of Rosenqvist and Marcus Armstrong, MSR has been performing well. Currently Rosenqvist sits sixth in the championship and Armstrong is in fourteenth after four races.
Next up is Rosenqvist!