Rosenqvist Has More to Accomplish with Meyer Shank Racing
Photo: Aaron Skillman/Penske Entertainment
By Dennis Krause
As the NTT INDYCAR SERIES embarks on brutal five-week, six-race stretch to round out the season beginning with this weekend’s Only Bulls Grand Prix of Portland International Raceway, Felix Rosenqvist is looking finish his three-year tenure with Meyer Shank Racing strong.
“I'm looking forward to it a lot,” said Rosenqvist, a new dad and this year’s Indianapolis 500 winner. “It's actually been really nice to have a break I think for all of us. My phone has been pretty quiet these last two weeks, which probably means everyone needed it.
“Especially the way everything has been going on after the 500, it's been nice to get some family time and recharge and set into this last stint here with good energy.
“Yeah, look forward to it. A lot of cool tracks coming up. Two more oval races and some road courses, street courses. I think it will be a good final stretch here.”
Rosenqvist believes there’s a genuine opportunity to finish out the year on a high note.
“I think all of them are pretty high opportunity for me. We also have two new tracks (Markham, Ontario, Canada and Washington D.C.), which you never really know.
“I think historically street courses have been a good category for me. I think the question mark is probably the doubleheader at Milwaukee. Last year we had our toughest race there. Being a doubleheader this year, it's been by far the biggest focus for us to improve.
“We had a test there probably a month ago, which went really well. We felt way more comfortable than last year. Still early days. But I feel like we're at least closing that gap that we missed last year.
“Yeah, if we can nail down Milwaukee, I think we have every reason to be very excited for the rest of the year here, for all the tracks.”
Photo: Chris Owens/Penske Entertainment
Given that there’s no break until the end of the season, and with a double-header mixed in at Milwaukee, Rosenqvist claims he hasn’t done anything differently to prepare for the stretch run.
“Not really. I think mentally you prep yourself for it. It was kind of the same thing when we went into the month of May followed by Detroit followed by St. Louis. You approach it in a way that it's going to be tough. I think if you do it that way, you're going to get through it fine.
“If someone called me after the 500 and told me, Hey, you have two more races coming up, then it would be a completely different story, right?
“Just mental prep, physical prep,” Rosenqvist offered. “Obviously a lot of these places are going to be hot. Hydration. Got some good training back in the last couple weeks. That's kind of all you can do.
“I think for engineers and crew guys it's actually tougher for them just with never really getting a chance to catch up from weekend to weekend.
“Everyone's pros in this sport. We've done this many times. I think actually the season fell nicer this way than it did last year. I think most people I've talked to agree. I think we're all already for it.”
At the end of June, Meyer Shank Racing announced that Rosenqvist would be leaving the team at the end of the season. For 2027, Rosenqvist will be re-joining Arrow McLaren. While that situation could be awkward, Rosenqvist insists nothing has changed in his relationship with Meyer Shank.
“No. Actually not. It's been kind of back to normal. Obviously when you had to make these calls in the middle of the year, which is the way it works in INDYCAR SERIES, unfortunately. Even with the long off-season we have, seems like most of the deals are made in May, June, July.
“Obviously when the decision was made, it's never a good thing, right? But I think everyone's done a really good job looking forward. We still have a third of a season to go here. Everyone's in good spirits. Everyone's hungry to win. Same goes for me. Nothing really changes from my standpoint here going into the last bit.
“I think we have a lot to be proud of and also a lot more to accomplish together. Just going to keep rolling.”
Photo: Aaron Skillman/Penske Entertainment
Rosenqvist’s previous stint with Arrow McLaren from 2021-23 could best be described as uneven. But, the 34-year-old Swede honestly believes it will be different this time around.
“Yeah, I mean, when I joined the team 2021, that was probably one of my toughest seasons. But I actually had a good year after that. Finished eighth in points, got going pretty well. Yeah, a little bit up and down. But some great pace, a lot of pole positions, some podiums together.
“I don't want to talk too much about it now because we're still obviously in the middle of the season with Meyer Shank Racing. I think the future outlook, the new car, things like that, it's definitely an area where I expect them to be good. Yeah, just a lot of things. A lot of small things together I think that has made this decision.
“It was very hard. It was probably the hardest decision I've had to make. But yeah, that's where it landed. I'm excited to join them next year.”
Rosenqvist also believes that he’s changed and grown, as a driver.
“It's ever changing, right, in this sport? I think you have to be very open to yourself and your weaknesses and always strive for more.
“I think when I look back to 2023, it seems like a lifetime ago. I think just three years of working on all the little details, becoming a bit wiser, more experienced, hopefully faster. I think it all adds up to when you come back, you probably turn into a little bit of a different driver.
“I think that speed has always been kind of the same for me in INDYCAR. We've always been pretty good at qualifying. I think my race craft has improved quite a bit, especially this year. Those are the sort of things you look forward to applying coming back there.
“You're a more seasoned driver. You know more about how the car works, what you need from the car. You can probably lead the team a bit better than what I could have done three years ago.
“Yeah, just a better package in general.”
As he rounds out his time at Meyer Shank, Rosenqvist described what success would look like to him after the final race of the season.
“I think extracting the most out of yourself is obviously number one. Showing up and feeling like you laid it all down, both in qualifying and the race. That's always the main focus for me.
Photo: Chris Jones/Penske Entertainment
“I think we were very close to winning Road America before the yellow came out. Long Beach, as well, was a close one for us. We finished P2 there. I think there's a lot of hunger for a win. Obviously we got the 500 in May. But I think the team really feel like we're a little bit overdue for a win on a non-500, normal race weekend let's say. That would be super cool.
“I feel like everyone at the team would be deserving of a victory. If it's me or (teammate) Marcus (Armstrong), we've been there sniffing at the top step of the podium a lot this year. That would be really cool for the team with the last six races here for me with Meyer Shank Racing. I think it would be a perfect ending.
“I think if you aim for wins, the rest will come naturally. We'll see in terms of championship standings where we end up. I think we're sitting seventh right now. If you can sneak into the top five, that would also be pretty cool for everyone.”
And what will Rosenqvist take from his time with Meyer Shank Racing?
“I think there's just so much, so many good memories. I think joining the team, having pole at Long Beach. I think that was a really cool memory for me because we just hit it off straightaway. In the first couple of weekends we were on the front row, we were fighting up front.
“This was a very different time for the team and for me, as well. It's easy to sit now and say, Oh, yeah, obviously we need to fight for poles and wins. Back then it wasn't as obvious and it was very exciting for us.
Photo: Doug Matthews/Penske Entertainment
“Obviously getting the 500 win together, I mean, that day is obviously the biggest day - at least for me - in my career. Yeah, just so cool to do that with great people. I think everyone was just so deserving of that one. The fact that they got the second 500 win, actually the two only wins, which is kind of crazy to think about. Yeah, it was really, really cool.
“The fact that everyone in the team, including the 66 and 06 car seemed as happy as they won themselves. I think that speaks a lot to what a great culture the team has.”
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute.