If you had been told at the start of the year that both Meyer Shank Racing drivers would finish ahead of all three Team Penske drivers, you probably would have thought something spectacular happened. Not quite, but Meyer Shank Racing did have its most impressive season in IndyCar as its new partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing lifted the two-car team up the running order. It was constantly on the periphery of something special, but it didn't quite pan out in the ultimate success.
Felix Rosenqvist
Rosenqvist had a fantastic start to his 2024 season cover for a rough end to that campaign. It still netted him a top ten championship finish. The hope was for better in 2025, and this year was pretty good. It wasn't clearly better. It had good moments. It had the moments we have become accustomed to seeing from Felix Rosenqvist. Paired with Marcus Armstrong, Rosenqvist helped MSR have its best season in IndyCar.
What objectively was his best race?
Road America just got away from Rosenqvist. He had the fuel and the tires in the final stint as Álex Palou had to conserve fuel. Rosenqvist went on the chase but he fell just short and finished second in what was a stellar run and a victory if against probably 25 other drivers on the grid.
What subjectively was his best race?
Road America should be acknowledged, but Rosenqvist started fifth and finished fourth after Marcus Ericsson was disqualified in the Indianapolis 500. Rosenqvist spent the entire race in the top ten, but didn't do much to stand out. However, he was there. The car held its ground even if it didn't turn into a contender.
What objectively was his worst race?
Rosenqvist was blitzed from behind on the opening lap at Laguna Seca. Kyffin Simpson got the braking wrong into turn six, and Rosenqvist was the innocent bystander, and his 12th-place starting position was ruined on a day everyone expected the Swede to go forward.
What subjectively was his worst race?
It isn't one race but the constant problem we know from Rosenqvist. He can qualify well but the finish doesn't match. He had six races where he started in the top five. Only two of those races ended in a top five finish. Of those six races, the only one where he finished better than his starting position was the Indianapolis 500, and that only happened because a car that finished ahead of him was disqualified. His average finish in races where he started in the top five was eighth, not bad, but it must be better than that. There are too many missed opportunities each season for Rosenqvist.
Felix Rosenqvist's 2025 Statistics
Championship Position: 6th (372 points)
Wins: 0
Podiums: 1
Top Fives: 4
Top Tens: 10
Laps Led: 8
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 4
Fast Twelves: 8
Average Start: 9.705
Average Finish: 11.352
Wins: 0
Podiums: 1
Top Fives: 4
Top Tens: 10
Laps Led: 8
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 4
Fast Twelves: 8
Average Start: 9.705
Average Finish: 11.352
Marcus Armstrong
After two seasons within the Chip Ganassi Racing organization, Armstrong was loaned out to Meyer Shank Racing as the two teams started an technical alliance for the 2025 season. Armstrong thrived in his new setting. Meyer Shank Racing continued its improvement from the 2024 season, and Armstrong was one of the most consistent drivers over the course of the season.
What objectively was his best race?
Thanks to timing, Armstrong ended up finishing third in the second Iowa race. He had not made his final pit stop prior to the Colton Herta caution. Thanks to that break, Armstrong found himself in a podium position, and despite the final run to the checkered flag, no one knocked the New Zealander off the rostrum.
What subjectively was his best race?
Some good strategy allowed Armstrong to finish fifth at Road America, but he had a good car in traffic, and he was pushing for fourth over Kyle Kirkwood. It was especially impressive because Armstrong started 15th.
What objectively was his worst race?
He was in the running for a top five finish at St. Petersburg before left-rear suspension problems ended his race shortly after the first pit stop. Instead of starting the season on a high note, Armstrong ended the first race classified in 24th, ahead of only three drivers who were taken out in the opening lap accident.
What subjectively was his worst race?
It is harsh to say it is 18th in the Indianapolis 500 because I don't think Armstrong drove poorly, but it is his worst race because of the practice accident just prior to qualifying. He looked poised to be a driver to qualify in the top 12. Instead, he had to be in the last row shootout. He qualified 32nd and then moved up to 30th after two Team Penske cars were moved to the rear of the grid. Armstrong never had the comfort with the backup car. This is more of a case of a missed opportunity than a bad race.
Marcus Armstrong's 2025 Statistics
Championship Position: 8th (364 points)
Wins: 0
Podiums: 1
Wins: 0
Podiums: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 11
Laps Led: 28
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 2
Fast Twelves: 9
Average Start: 11
Average Finish: 10.882
Top Tens: 11
Laps Led: 28
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 2
Fast Twelves: 9
Average Start: 11
Average Finish: 10.882
An Early Look Ahead
There is a great chance Meyer Shank Racing will take a step back in 2026. Both of its cars were ahead of all three Team Penske drivers, both Ed Carpenter Racing entries, both A.J. Foyt Racing entries, all three Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing entries and then there was the third Ganassi entry and the third Andretti entry.
Unless MSR wins multiple races with both its drivers, it will likely see at least two if not three of those cars listed above finish ahead of both its cars. That means it will drop Rosenqvist down to at least eighth and Armstrong down to at least tenth, and that would still be a great season for the team. Double top ten championship finishers is outstanding for this group. The concern is it feels like this is MSR's ceiling.
We know we are seeing Rosenqvist's limit. The Swede has just completed his seventh season in IndyCar. He has won one race. He has tremendous qualifying pace. It seldom transfers to race pace. His average finish was over 2.5 spots worse than his average starting position. There is no confidence that Rosenqvist can take qualifying pace and turn it into a drive forward. It usually goes in the opposite direction. It is fine because finishing between sixth and tenth in the championship in about half the races will get you a top ten championships, but it is frustrating to be that close and never breakthrough.
Armstrong lived in the back-half of the championship top ten. It was the kind of season he needed, but it doesn't feel like he is that much of a threat. I don't think we went into a race day last year thinking Armstrong was capable of turning a sixth on the grid into a podium or victory or take an eighth and turn it into a run for the podium. That is the next step for MSR.
The problem is with the technical partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing, MSR is kind of expected to be no better than the third-best CGR car. That is a good place to be, and it could be good enough to win a race or two, but it isn't likely we will see Rosenqvist or Armstrong be a surprise championship contender. The team kind of lives in IndyCar limbo, good enough that it can be ahead of most but never good enough that it can be the best.
Meyer Shank Racing has a good combination with Rosenqvist and Armstrong, but it feels like we just saw the best we can expect from it. That makes 2026 a near impossible season when it comes to satisfaction.
