Meyer Shank Racing Explained

Meyer Shank Racing
Owners:Michael Shank
Jim Meyer
Liberty Media
Helio Castroneves
Principals:Michael Shank
Base:Pataskala, Ohio
Series:IndyCar Series
IMSA SportsCar Championship
Drivers:IndyCar Series:
06/66. Helio Castroneves
60. Felix Rosenqvist
66. Tom Blomqvist
66. David Malukas
IMSA SportsCar Championship:
60. Tom Blomqvist
60. Colin Braun
Manufacturer:IndyCar Series: Honda
IMSA SportsCar Championship: Acura
Drivers Champ:IMSA SportsCar Championship: 2019, 2020, 2022
Indy Wins:1 (2021)

Meyer Shank Racing (MSR; formerly Michael Shank Racing) is an American motorsport organization that competes in the IndyCar Series and the IMSA SportsCar Championship.

History

Atlantic Championship

Michael Shank, co-owner of Meyer Shank Racing (MSR), was originally a car owner for Sam Hornish Jr. He started racing in 1989, winning SCCA Ohio Valley Region's Novice Driver of the Year. He later on debuted his racing career in the mid-1990s, winning the 1996 Player's/Toyota Atlantic C2 championship. Shank raced in his one and only Indy Racing League in 1997 with Nienhouse Motorsports. By 1999 Shank had won the Formula Atlantic series Rookie of the Year title. Shank has since been twice named Formula Atlantic Team Owner of the Year.

Grand-Am

Michael Shank joined the Grand-Am Rolex Series in 2004, the second year of the Daytona Prototype class. He entered a Lexus-powered Doran JE4 in 12 races with primary drivers Ozz Negri and Burt Frisselle, finishing second at Watkins Glen's short course and third at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The team owner took a giant step in 2005. Orlando transportation magnate Paul Mears Jr. partnered with Shank to run his Pontiac Riley. Impressed with the new car, Shank purchased a Riley of his own, with Negri capturing the pole for the car's first race at Laguna Seca to immediately demonstrate its potential. Negri and Mark Patterson completed the season, with a best finish of third at Watkins Glen, while Mears and Mike Borkowski earned podiums at California Speedway and Barber Motorsports Park.

MSR posted its first victory in 2006, with Negri and Patterson winning the finale at Salt Lake City. John Pew joined the team midway through the 2007 campaign, and became the regular driver in the No. 6 Lexus Riley with Ian James, with Patterson and Negri in the No. 60. Shank was the first team owner to step up to the second generation DP in 2008, upgrading both of his cars to Ford-powered Rileys—with Negri validating his move by winning the pole for that year's Rolex 24 at Daytona. Negri and Patterson won the inaugural race at New Jersey Motorsports Park in the No. 60, while Pew, Ian James and Rafa Matos won the finale at Utah's Miller Motorsports Park.

After showing continued improvement throughout the upcoming campaigns, MSR was recognized as a premier team in 2012. With Grand-Am upgrading to the third-generation DP, Shank purchased a pair of Ford-powered Rileys. The team made its first race a major achievement, taking the overall victory in the heralded 50th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Justin Wilson and AJ Allmendinger joined Pew and Negri. Shank recorded another milestone in 2013, when Colin Braun drove his DP to a pair of FIA-sanctioned world records in the 10 kilometers and 10 miles at Daytona International Speedway. Braun also shattered the track record with a lap of 222.971 mph, breaking Bill Elliott's 26-year-old mark of 210.364 mph.

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

In 2014 Grand-Am and the American Le Mans Series merged to form the United SportsCar Championship. Meyer Shank Racing ran a single Riley Ford Ecoboost DP with drivers John Pew and Oswaldo Negri in the new series. In 2015 and 2016 the team replaced the current car with a Ligier JS P2-HPD keeping Pew and Negri behind the wheel. In 2016 the team claimed wins at Laguna Seca and Petit Le Mans with Ozz Negri and John Pew behind the wheel at both tracks. Operating for the past two seasons as a customer team fielding a Honda-powered Ligier chassis in IMSA's prototype division, Michael Shank Racing has been a consistent front-runner in the headline category of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The Columbus, Ohio-based operation will run a pair of Acura NSX GT3s in the GTD class of the endurance racing series.The team switched to the GT Daytona (GTD) class in 2017 and entered two factory-backed Acura NSX GT3s with drivers Oswaldo Negri Jr, Jeff Segal, Andy Lally and Katherine Legge. That season the team saw two wins, Belle Isle and Watkins Glen. The following season, 2018, Meyer Shank Racing saw another win at Belle Isle and a win at Laguna Seca which left the team finishing second overall in the United SportsCar Championship. The team also introduced new drivers Mario Farnbacher, Trent Hindman, and Justin Marks.

The 2019 season brought one win at Watkins Glen and four second place finishes throughout the year. Farnbacher, Hindman, and Marks won the GT Daytona (GTD) group title in 2019. The 2020 season brought more new drivers Matt McMurry and Shinya Michimi. As well as the team's first win at Road Atlanta and the second win at Laguna Seca. Hélio Castroneves was introduced to the Meyer Shank Racing team at the end of the 2021 season, racing in the Petit Le Mans. The following year, 2022, was a big season for Meyer Shank Racing as the team saw their first victory at the Rolex 24 in Daytona with drivers Oliver Jarvis, Tom Blomqvist, Hélio Castroneves, and Simon Pagenaud. The 2022 season also brought home a huge win with the team taking first place for the WeatherTech Championship.

The Rolex 2023 24 Hours of Daytona saw the MSR team bring home their second victory at Daytona, with their LMDh GTP hypercar racing prototype, under drivers Helio Castroneves, Colin Braun, Simon Pagenaud, Tom Blomqvist. However, after the race, the team and drivers were penalized all the points and prize money, due to infringement on the rules concerning tire pressure. The tire pressure data had been manipulated, leading to a $50,000 team fine, and the expulsion of the race engineer Ryan McCarthy the season and team, and probation for the team. The team and drivers kept the win, but without any Michelin Endurance points and reduced championship points.[1] [2]

After the 2023 IMSA Sports Car Championship season, MSR would not return for 2024.

IndyCar

The team purchased a 2012 Dallara IndyCar, with the goal of adding a full-time IndyCar program in 2012 while continuing its Grand-Am programs. The original intention for the IndyCar program was to run under the name "MSR Indy", with A. J. Allmendinger and Brian Bailey as co-owners. The program was intended to use the Lotus engines (later revealed to be uncompetitive) and field Jay Howard for the 2012 Indianapolis 500; however, despite having full sponsorship from Jim Beam, the failure to secure a competitive engine lease kept it from doing so.

MSR announced that it had sold its Dallara chassis to Sam Schmidt Motorsports in February 2013 and declared its intention to collaborate with another team on a 2013 Indianapolis 500 entry. No such program was finalized in time for the race. For the 2017 Indianapolis 500, the team partnered with Andretti Autosport for an entry driven by Jack Harvey.In the 2018 IndyCar Series, in a partnership with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, the team entered Jack Harvey in 6 events, including the 2018 Indianapolis 500, and in 2019 in 10 races, obtaining the first podium, the 3rd place in the IndyCar Grand Prix.

On October 2, 2020, it was announced that Liberty Media's Formula One Group was making a minority equity investment in the team.

On May 30, 2021, Hélio Castroneves won the 2021 Indy 500 with the team. This marked Castroneves' 4th Indy 500 victory (tied for most all time), and the team's first career victory in the IndyCar Series. Hélio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud competed for Meyer Shank in 2022 and will continue racing with the team for the 2023 season.

Racing results

IndyCar Series

(key)

YearChassisEngineDriversNo.123456789101112131415161718Pos.Pts.
Michael Shank Racing with Andretti Autosport
2017STPLBHALAPHXIMSINDYDETTXSROAIOWTORMDOPOCGATWGLSNM
Dallara DW12Honda HI17TT V6t503157
Meyer Shank Racing with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
2018STPPHXLBHALAIMSINDYDETTXSROAIOWTORMDOPOCGATPORSNM
Dallara DW12Honda HI18TT V6t60121620161724th103
Meyer Shank Racing with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
2019STPCOAALALBHIMSINDYDETTXSROATORIOWMDOPOCGATPORLAG
Dallara DW12Honda HI19TT V6t601010133211510191921st186
Meyer Shank Racing
2020TXSIMSROAIOWINDYGATMDOIMSSTP
Dallara DW12Honda HI20TT V6t Jack Harvey601617 231777 91113712861915th288
2021ALASTPTXSIMSINDYDETROAMDONSHIMSGATPORLAGLBH
Dallara DW12Honda HI21TT V6t Hélio Castroneves0618L92123242022nd158
Jack Harvey6011471723181619171915610415713th308
2022STPTXSLBHALAIMSINDYDETROAMDOTORIOWIMSNSHGATPORLAG
Dallara DW12Honda HI22TT V6t Hélio Castroneves061423L92114725228171621191315171918th263
Simon Pagenaud60158191128912107232325920231715th314
2023STPTXSLBHALAIMSINDYDETROAMDOTORIOWNSHIMSGATPORLAG
Dallara DW12Honda HI23TT V6t Hélio Castroneves06231021212215191521211416111523141318th217
Simon Pagenaud602617151825251314Wth28th88
Conor Daly20211725th
25242634th16
25121831st35
2024STPTHELBHALAIMSINDYDETROALAGMDOIOWTORGATPORMILNSH
Dallara DW12Honda HI24TT V6t Felix Rosenqvist60539410278 14111413262313th*221*
Hélio Castroneves062034th*26*
6625 19
15DNQ2219233128th*46*
David Malukas16122613626th*82*
* Season still in progress
  1. Non-points-paying, exhibition race.

IMSA SportsCar Championship

Prototype

YearChassisEngineFull-time driversNo.1234567891011Pos.Pts.
Michael Shank Racing
2014 DAYSEBLBHLAGDETWGIMOSIMSROACOTAATL 
Ford EcoBoost Riley DPFord EcoBoost 3.5L V6 Turbo Oswaldo Negri Jr.
John Pew
6012991047562566th281
Michael Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian
2015 DAYSEBLBHLAGDETWGIMOSROACOTAATL 
Ligier JS P2Honda HR28TT 2.8L V6 Turbo Oswaldo Negri Jr.
John Pew
60513632734496th273
2016 DAYSEBLBHLAGDETWGIMOSROACOTAATL 
Ligier JS P2Honda HR35TT 3.5L V6 Turbo Oswaldo Negri Jr.
John Pew (9 races)
60117715364614th282
Meyer Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian
2021 DAYSEBMDODETWGIWGIROALAGLBHATL 
Acura ARX-05Acura AR35TT 3.5 L Turbo V6 Dane Cameron6043662654665th2946
2022 DAYSEBLBHLAGMOHDETWGIMOSROAATL 
Acura ARX-05Acura AR35TT 3.5 L Turbo V6 Tom Blomqvist
Oliver Jarvis
6015422222411st3432

GT Daytona

YearChassisEngineDriversNo.123456789101112Pos.Pts.
Michael Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian
2017 DAYSEBLBHCOTADETWGIMOSLIMROAVIRLGAATL 
Acura NSX GT3Acura 3.5L V6 Turbo Oswaldo Negri Jr.
Jeff Segal
865810115161091414101213th248
Andy Lally
Katherine Legge
931114715112515152146th286
Meyer Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian
2018 DAYSEBMOHDETWGIMOSLIMROAVIRLGAATL 
Acura NSX GT3 Katherine Legge
Álvaro Parente (9 races)
86282125473122nd329
Lawson Aschenbach
Justin Marks
931175214698913129th249
2019 DAYSEBMOHDETWGIMOSLIMROAVIRLGAATL 
Acura NSX GT3Heinricher Racing with Meyer Shank Racing
Katherine Legge5712810946121312679th221
Meyer Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian
Mario Farnbacher
Trent Hindman
8647211122528121st283
2020 DAY1DAY2SEB1ROAVIRATL1MOHCLTATL2LGASEB2 
Acura NSX GT3Heinricher Racing with MSR Curb/Agajanian
Mikhail Goikhberg (11 races)
Álvaro Parente (10 races)
57841267656367th250
Meyer Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian
Mario Farnbacher (11 races)
Matt McMurry (11 races)
861032215710131st288

24 Hours of Le Mans

WeatherTech SportsCar Championship wins

Overall

Season Date Classes Track / Race No. Winning Drivers Chassis Engine
12016May 1PrototypeLaguna Seca60 Oswaldo Negri Jr. / John PewLigier JS P2Honda HR35TT 3.5 L V6 Turbo
2October 1PrototypeRoad Atlanta60 Oswaldo Negri Jr. / John Pew / Olivier PlaLigier JS P2Honda HR35TT 3.5 L V6 Turbo
32022January 30DPiDaytona60 Helio Castroneves / Simon Pagenaud / Tom Blomqvist / Oliver JarvisAcura ARX-05c DPiAcura AR35TT 3.5L V6 Twin-Turbo
4October 1DPiRoad Atlanta60 Helio Castroneves / Tom Blomqvist / Oliver JarvisAcura ARX-05c DPiAcura AR35TT 3.5L V6 Twin-Turbo
52023January 29GTPDaytona60 Helio Castroneves / Simon Pagenaud / Tom Blomqvist / Colin BraunAcura ARX-06 LMDhAcura AR24e 2.4L V6 Twin-Turbo

Class

Season Date Classes Track / Race No. Winning Drivers Chassis Engine
12017June 3Belle Isle93 Andy Lally / Katherine LeggeAcura NSX GT3Acura 3.5L Turbo V6
2July 3Watkins Glen93 Andy Lally / Katherine LeggeAcura NSX GT3Acura 3.5L Turbo V6
32018June 2Belle Isle86 Mario Farnbacher / Katherine LeggeAcura NSX GT3 EvoAcura 3.5L Turbo V6
4September 9Laguna Seca86 Katherine Legge / Álvaro ParenteAcura NSX GT3 EvoAcura 3.5L Turbo V6
52019June 30Watkins Glen86 Mario Farnbacher / Trent Hindman / Justin MarksAcura NSX GT3 EvoAcura 3.5L Turbo V6
62020September 5Road Atlanta86 Mario Farnbacher / Matt McMurry / Shinya MichimiAcura NSX GT3 EvoAcura 3.5L Turbo V6
7November 1Laguna Seca86 Mario Farnbacher / Matt McMurryAcura NSX GT3 EvoAcura 3.5L Turbo V6

Notes and References

  1. News: Meyer Shank Racing's Daytona 24-Winning Acura Was Manipulating Tire Pressure Data . Travis Okulski . 8 March 2023 . Road and Track .
  2. News: How Does Meyer Shank Racing shake its bad mojo? . Dylan Spaulding . 27 April 2023 . Sports Illustrated .