IndyCar News: Andretti Looks To Extend Partnership With Meyer Shank Racing

Meyer Shank Racing and Andretti Global are likely to renew their successful technical partnership in IndyCar racing, dismissing rumors of its end.

Andretti Global/Curb-Agajanian's Colton Herta enters Turn 1 as NTT IndyCar Series drivers compete during Detroit Grand Prix in downtown Detroit on Sunday, June 2, 2024. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) and Andretti Global are poised to continue their successful technical alliance beyond the current season, dispelling recent rumors of their partnership's dissolution after the concluding race in Nashville this September. Michael Shank, co-owner of MSR, has firmly denied these speculations, affirming the ongoing negotiations aimed at renewing their contract.

"We’re still working on it. Our contract is up but we’re working on a new one. That’s not true," Shank stated.

The MSR-Andretti partnership formally began in 2017 when the former, then known as Michael Shank Racing, made its Indianapolis 500 debut by aligning with Andretti. With Jim Meyer joining as a co-owner in November 2019, MSR committed full-time to the IndyCar series, establishing a significant alliance with Andretti Technologies, the advanced tech division of Andretti Global. This collaboration has since yielded remarkable results, including MSR’s notable victory at the 2021 Indianapolis 500 with driver Helio Castroneves behind the wheel.

Discussing the partnership’s history, Shank revealed, as quoted by Motorsport:

“Remember, this is our fifth year with them.

“So, we’ve done two two year (deals) and this year we did one just because we didn’t know what was going to happen. Lots of different things. I got nothing but love for guys; we’ve had a really good relationship.”

The benefits of this alliance are evident in this season's performance, particularly with driver Felix Rosenqvist, who has garnered two top-five finishes, five top tens, and an average starting position of 10.1 across seven points-paying races, currently standing 10th in the championship. Rosenqvist also clinched a pole position at Long Beach and finished third at the non-points exhibition race at The Thermal Club earlier in March.

Nonetheless, challenges remain, especially around finding consistency in the team’s second car which started the season with rookie Tom Blomqvist, saw Helio Castroneves take the wheel for two races, and recently confirmed David Malukas for the remainder of the season following his recovery from an injury.

Rob Edwards, COO of Andretti Global, reinforced the ongoing positive negotiations, "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 further reiterated the exclusivity of their partnership with MSR, stating, "No, Shank is the only team we want to have a partnership with. They’re great partners, so no, we’re not planning on any changes."