Pataskala, Ohio (17 June 2024) – Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) is looking forward to getting back on track after a strong start to the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. After a weekend off, the team heads to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for Round 8 of the series’ regular season races (Sunday, June 23, 6:00pm ET, USA, SiriusXM Ch. 218).
Felix Rosenqvist (No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda), who is 10th in the series standings after posting five top-10 finishes in seven starts, will be joined by third-year driver David Malukas, who will take over in the No. 66 AutoNation / Arctic Wolf Honda for the remainder of the season.
Malukas will be making his first start of the 2024 season after breaking his wrist in a preseason training accident. The Lithuianian-American driver comes to MSR after two seasons with Dale Coyne Racing where he made 34 INDYCAR starts and earned a pair of podium finishes.
The challenging 2.238-mile layout has been a tough nut to crack for MSR’s INDYCAR effort as last year’s 13th-place run for Helio Castroneves is the team’s best in its previous seven starts. But both Rosenqvist and Malukas will count on using previous successes there to guide the Ohio-based squad to the sharp end of the grid this weekend.
Rosenqvist has a pair of top-five finishes in his previous four starts at Laguna Seca and is the reigning pole winner before mid-race contact doomed him to a 19th-place finish. Malukas started sixth in his first qualifying attempt (2022), a result which is still a career-best on a road or street course for the former INDY NXT driver.
Sunday’s 95-lap Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey will air on USA Network and Peacock starting at 6 p.m. ET. Saturday’s qualifying will be shown live on Peacock beginning at 5:15 p.m. ET. SiriusXM will also host live IndyCar Radio coverage of both sessions on XM Ch. 218.
Meyer Shank Racing Driver Quotes:
Felix Rosenqvist: “Laguna Seca is a highlight of the year. It’s arguable the best track we go to and after the current re-pave, it’s ultra fast. I’ve had some great memories from there and can’t wait to get back to it again after the break.”
David Malukas: “After a long wait, I’m thrilled to finally start my 2024 season this weekend at Laguna Seca. I have received INDYCAR clearance and have been able to spend a lot of time on the simulator and testing with MSR, so I’m feeling ready to get back in the swing of things. While I’m expecting Laguna Seca to be a challenge, I’m eager to get back behind the wheel and focus on the rest of the season ahead.”