Meyer Shank Racing and Andretti Global are actively negotiating an extension of their technical cooperation in the IndyCar Series beyond this season.
There were some rumours in the paddock that the partnership would be coming to an end when the checkered flag waves on the season finale in Nashville in September. However, co-owner Michael Shank dismissed any rumours about the deal’s cancellation.
“We’re still working on it,” Shank said Motorsport.com. “Our contract is up, but we are working on a new one. “That is not true.”
How It Started
The partnership began in 2017 when MSR (then known as Michael Shank Racing) made its Indianapolis 500 debut and teamed up with Andretti. In November 2019, prior of MSR’s full-time commitment to IndyCar (and two years after Jim Meyer joined as co-owner), the organisation announced an alliance with Andretti Technologies, Andretti Global’s advanced technology department.
The alliance’s rewards included MSR winning the 2021 Indianapolis 500, their lone IndyCar victory to date, with Helio Castroneves.
This year has demonstrated the alliance’s strength, particularly with Felix Rosenqvist, who has two top fives, five top tens, and an average starting position of 10.1, including one pole (Long Beach), through seven points-paying races to rank tenth in the championship standings. He also placed third in the non-points exhibition at The Thermal Club in March.
“Remember, this is our fifth year with them,” Shank explained.
“So, we’ve done two two-year contracts, and this year we did one because we didn’t know what was going to happen. Many distinct things. I have nothing but affection for guys; we’ve had a great relationship.”
MSR’s biggest challenge this year has been finding consistency alongside Rosenqvist in the second car, which began with rookie Tom Blomqvist, who was then replaced by Helio Castroneves for two races before the team confirmed David Malukas – who returns from injury this weekend – for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Andretti Global COO Rob Edwards expressed similar comments to Shank.
“We’re still negotiating, so it’s not done, but I think it’s been good for both of us and I think we all have every intention of continuing,” Edwards told the website Motorsport.com.
There is also no desire for Andretti to form an alliance with another team.
“No, Shank is the only team we want to have a partnership with,” Edwards informed the audience.
“They’re great partners, so no, we’re not planning on any changes.”
