Pataskala, Ohio (14 March 2022) – After showcasing its IMSA WeatherTech and NTT INDYCAR SERIES programs in a pair of classic Florida races to open 2022 competition, Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) is set for its first dual-action weekend of the year with trips to Sebring International Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway.
After opening the year by winning the 60th edition of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, MSR’s IMSA sports car team is set for another iconic Florida endurance event, Saturday’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring (Saturday, 10:00am ET, Peacock).
MSR will also visit Texas Motor Speedway for the Xpel 375 (Sunday, 12:30pm ET, NBC) after coming off a challenging showing in the IndyCar season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg last month. Team co-owner Mike Shank will also be ‘doing the double’ as he will be in Sebring until Friday before flying to Texas for Saturday & Sunday.
Meyer Shank Racing Looking for Second Straight Victory at Sebring Classic
Driver Lineup:
Tom Blomqvist, Oliver Jarvis & Stoffel Vandoorne: No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Acura ARX-05 DPi
Tune In: Saturday, March 19, 2022 on Peacock (10 a.m. – 10:10 p.m. ET; USA 3:30-10:30 p.m.), SiriusXM Ch. 202
Ten years after a breakthrough victory in the 50th Rolex 24 At Daytona, Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian’s four drivers combined for a convincing victory as IndyCar regulars Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud joined Oliver Jarvis and Tom Blomqvist to repeat at Daytona.
With Castroneves unable to step in as endurance driver in Sebring due to the Texas IndyCar conflict, Stoffel Vandoorne will be the third driver this weekend. This will be the IMSA debut for Vandoorne, a former Formula 1 and current Formula E competitor. He has five WEC podium finishes in 2021 co-driving with Blomqvist, with the pair sharing second in the LMP2 championship.
MSR had its best showing at Sebring last year, when Juan Pablo Montoya, Dane Cameron and Olivier Pla took third in only the second outing for the No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Acura ARX-05.
Saturday marks the 70th anniversary of the Sebring classic, staged on runways and adjoining road on a World War II training airport. MSR first competed in the event in 2014, finishing ninth with Ozz Negri, John Pew and Justin Wilson in a Ford Riley DP.
Driver Quotes:
Tom Blomqvist: “Obviously we are carrying a lot of momentum from our win at Daytona, so we’d like to use that to our benefit heading to Sebring. It’s a completely different race and challenge. It’s probably one of the toughest tracks on the cars and us drivers that we will visit all year. We had a good two days preparation for the event so we’re confident. We just have to have a clean race and stay out of trouble, basically do exactly what we did at Daytona. It’s also great to have Stoffel onboard, I know him very well. Not only are we great friends but we raced together last year in WEC, so we have a good working relationship. I know he will bring his performance to the table and be a great asset to the team.”
Oliver Jarvis: “After a dream start to the season in Daytona, we head to Sebring full of confidence and ready to build on our successful start. Unfortunately, Helio is unable to join us as he is busy with his IndyCar commitments, but in Stoffel we have the perfect replacement and after a successful two day test in February I have no doubt that he will be immediately on pace and bring a lot to the team. We know the Cadillacs are exceptionally strong in Sebring, but I am looking forward to taking the fight to them and as we know anything can happen in 12hrs at one of the toughest tracks in the world.”
Stoffel Vandoorne:“I’m very excited to get to work in Sebring. It was nice to have at least one test day in the car especially for me as I have never driven this car and I have also never driven Sebring before. We were actually very lucky to get a little but of running for me before the race. I felt comfortable straight away, with the car and with the circuit. It’s for sure a very challenging track with a lot of bumps and there will be a lot of traffic to deal with during the race as well. Obviously, the team won the race in Daytona and I hope we will be able to carry that momentum forward. I don’t really know what to expect but I just hope to do a solid job for the team.”
Meyer Shank Racing Duo to Challenge Fast Texas Oval
Driver Lineup:
Helio Castroneves: No. 06 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda
Simon Pagenaud: No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda
Tune in: Sunday, March 20, 2022, 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC, SiriusXM Ch. 205
Meyer Shank Racing will make its second start of the IndyCar season on the 1.5-mile banked Texas Motor Speedway oval for the Xpel 375.
A dominant IndyCar driver at Texas Motor Speedway, Castroneves won four races there and was inducted into the speedway’s Hall of Fame. After finishing second to Sam Hornish by 0.0096-seconds in 2003, he won the following year. Castroneves added victories in 2006, 2009 and 2013. He led 506 laps at the circuit, with one pole, seven podiums and 13 lead-lap finishes in 20 races.
Pagenaud has three podium finishes in 11 starts at Texas, leading 85 laps. He opened the 2020 campaign with a pair of podium finishes, and took second in 2018 and 2020.
Last year, IndyCar staged a weekend doubleheader at Texas. MSR had strong runs in both races running third prior to the opening round of pit stops on Saturday, going on to finish a solid seventh. On Sunday MSR was running third in the early laps, and was fourth when a mechanical problem in the right-rear of the car sent the team back to the garage early. MSR made its Texas debut in 2020 – the first race of the season due to the pandemic – placing 16th.
Driver Quotes:
Helio Castroneves: “I’m looking forward to getting back to Texas and it is certainly a place that I have been successful. I understand what I need to be doing and what not to be doing. It’s been quite some time since I’ve been there, but it’s great preparation for the Indy 500.”
Simon Pagenaud: “I’m really looking forward to Texas and I’m excited to be going there with Meyer Shank Racing and Honda. It’s one of my favorite ovals and it’s the first oval of the year, so I’m excited to see what this oval package is like. This year will be different racing in daylight – it will be hotter and the tires will behave in a different way. IndyCar has also made some tweaks to the aero package which should make for some better racing, so I’m really looking forward to the weekend.”