We begin the second half of the 2026 IndyCar Wrap-Ups with the Indianapolis 500 winning team. It was highly probable Meyer Shank Racing would win a race in 2026, but I doubt many thought it would be the Indianapolis 500, let alone in one of the most dramatic finishes in the race's 110-year history. There probably should have been more. Meyer Shank Racing showed great pace with both cars, but races didn't line up for them. Engine woes did plague half this team at the start of summer. Results might not have been MSR's best on paper, but this season was far from a failure and one of its best since joining the series.
Felix Rosenqvist
In his first two seasons at MSR, Rosenqvist showed the capability to challenge for victories, but it had not quite worked out in his favor. He was putting himself in the right positions. That pace carried into another season, and Rosenqvist again showed how high MSR could compete at. For two years, a victory was just out of his grasp. It felt inevitable in 2026. Things were bound to line up for the Swede. They could not have aligned at a better time.
What objectively was his best race?
Rosenqvist won the Indianapolis 500 by 0.0233 seconds over David Malukas after a lap caution set up a one-lap dash for the race. Rosenqvist spent nearly the entire final lap side-by-side with teammate Marcus Armstrong before pulling ahead in turn four. It set up Rosenqvist to carry momentum off the final corner and was able to slipstream off Malukas and get to the checkered flag first.
What subjectively was his best race?
It is Indianapolis, and the final lap is something rather inconceivable. Malukas took the lead from Armstrong at the start of the final lap, and with the MSR cars side-by-side, it felt like the race was gifted to Malukas. All preconceived notions told us two cars side-by-side would lose too much time and allow the leader to get away. Somehow, despite running side-by-side for almost an entire lap, Rosenqvist still had a prayer off the final turn, and he was able to claw back all the ground and then some to take the lead.
What set-up Rosenqvist for victory was a pit strategy that had Rosenqvist stop just as each of the final two pit windows opened and it took a good day and allowed it to be greater because they went off-strategy. It gave Rosenqvist track position and it put him in the lead in the closing stages, allowing him to be in the picture for the photo finish.
What objectively was his worst race?
At Markham, Rosenqvist suffered fuel pressure issues and his race was over after 18 laps, too early for any pit stops to take place and see how strategy could have played out for this group.
What subjectively was his worst race?
Rosenqvist had a number of less-than-impressive results this season. He lost a top ten finish at Arlington fo making a pass before a restart zone and was classified in 19th. Opening lap contact ruined his Grand Prix of Indianapolis and it put him in a spot where Kyffin Simpson cutting off Rosenqvist ended Rosenqvist's day. Rosenqvist threw away at least a top five finish if not a podium finish when he spun in Washington, D.C. after Scott McLaughlin hit the barrier in front of him, and Rosenqvist grazed the barrier enough to damage his car. Milwaukee was a bad weekend when it started so well in the first race that started on Saturday.
These aren't terrible results, but his two runner-up finishes should be mentioned. Both came from pole position at Long Beach and Portland. Both races saw Rosenqvist lead early and look like one of the best cars only for Álex Palou to jump Rosenqvist in the pit cycle. Rosenqvist was good, just not good enough in those races. They are still great days, but it highlighted this group was still not good enough to beat Palou.
Felix Rosenqvist's 2026 Statistics
Championship Position: 9th (412 points)
Wins: 1
Podiums: 3
Top Fives: 5
Top Tens: 7
Laps Led: 168
Poles: 2
Fast Sixes: 7
Fast Twelves: 9
Average Start: 9
Average Finish: 11.888
Wins: 1
Podiums: 3
Top Fives: 5
Top Tens: 7
Laps Led: 168
Poles: 2
Fast Sixes: 7
Fast Twelves: 9
Average Start: 9
Average Finish: 11.888
Marcus Armstrong
Expectations were up for everyone at MSR, Armstrong included as the team had both cars crack the championship top ten in 2026. Though Rosenqvist was the veteran and team leader, Armstrong was clearly comfortable and quick enough to be a factor for the team. Mechanical issues derailed Armstrong's season. His worst results came after a spat of engine failures, knocking down what was otherwise strong form.
What objectively was his best race?
Armstrong's best finish all season was fifth, first at Phoenix and then at the Indianapolis 500. He was leading coming to the final restart for the Indianapolis 500 after quickly taking the lead on the restart before that. He was 0.0155 seconds from finishing third at Indianapolis after Scott McLaughlin and Patricio O’Ward split him coming to the finish line.
What subjectively was his best race?
Indianapolis should be mentioned because Armstrong benefitted from the MSR strategy of stopping once the pit window opened to make it on two stops and it put him in a spot to be in the top five and potentially win the race.
His best race was Road America where Armstrong led 14 laps, and the cautions fell into his favor. He had a clear shot at victory though Christian Lundgaard was closing. It felt like Armstrong had enough of a gap to hold on for victory. Then his engine failed three laps from the finish on the main straightaway. What should have been a victory turned into a 24th-place finish, perhaps the best 24th-place finish we have seen in quite some time.
What objectively was his worst race?
At Portland, Armstrong lost his engine after 33 laps and he was the lone retirement from the race. Everyone else completed at least 106 laps. Armstrong was last in 25th. It was his third engine failure in four races. He was 24th at Nashville the race prior due to an engine expiring.
What subjectively was his worst race?
It is Road America because it should have been victory and it vanished from Armstrong through no fault of his own. It derailed Armstrong's season, and it was the start of a four-race stretch where he suffered three engine failures. He was classified 24th or worse in all three events. After having five top ten finishes and eight finishes in the top 11 through the first nine races, Armstrong had only two top ten finishes in the final nine races and an average finish 16.888, over six spots worse than his average in the first half of the season.
Marcus Armstrong's 2026 Statistics
Championship Position: 14th (320 points)
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 7
Laps Led: 29
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 4
Fast Twelves: 7
Average Start: 11.888
Average Finish: 13.555
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 7
Laps Led: 29
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 4
Fast Twelves: 7
Average Start: 11.888
Average Finish: 13.555
An Early Look Ahead
Meyer Shank Racing will go into 2027 without its Indianapolis 500 winning driver but with a driver line-up with ramped up expectations that has yet to show either driver can be a contender in IndyCar.
Marcus Armstrong has run well in IndyCar, and his consistency has been quite respectable. He probably should have won a race, but for how well as he has run, we have not seen him be a constant figure competing for race victories. He has been competing for top ten finishes and top five finishes, and sometimes being a spot or two better than where he has mainly run, but he has not been regularly in the fight for victories. The Indianapolis 500 and Road America this year were really his first two races where he was a true contender for victories.
Mick Schumacher will join Armstrong, and Mike Shank has already set the bar. He expects Schumacher to compete for top ten in the championship. This is asking a lot of a driver who was 23rd as a rookie, albeit driving for one of the weaker sides in IndyCar and spending most of the season dealing with a broken wrist, which was suffered in the season opener in an incident that was not Schumacher's fault.
It does not feel like MSR has a leader in its lineup. It is a ripe opportunity for either driver to establish some control.
I don't see how either can replicate what Felix Rosenqvist accomplished, and I am not talking about an Indianapolis 500 victory. I am talking about a driver who can win multiple pole positions, be a regular in the Fast Six and factor semi-regularly in road/street course races and be close to a level of Palou. Rosenqvist may have not won those road and street course races, but he at least put himself in the mix even if Palou or someone else came out on top.
I am not sure Armstrong can do that. He has done well but not quite been at that level, and the few times we have seen him qualify in the top five, he has stumbled in the race. Some of those were unforced errors.
Schumacher looked better at the end of the season and he looked more comfortable. I am not sure we have seen enough to think it is realistic for him to turn into a top ten championship driver. His oval form was better than we expected. Jumping up to 15th with be a significant improvement for Schumacher, but MSR wants more than that.
I don't think both MSR cars will finish in the top ten of the championship in 2027. One car might be one too many for MSR. It is very difficult to finish in the top ten in IndyCar. Will Power and Scott Dixon were outside the championship top ten this year. It would not be unthinkable that Alexander Rossi could rediscover form and get back in the championship top ten. If Christian Rasmussen can covert his oval pace into more consistent finishes and if he can modestly improve on road and street courses, Rasmussen could contender for the championship top ten. MSR could have a respectable year and have both cars finish outside the championship top ten.
There will be some growing pains as this team has changed. I don't think the bottom will fall out and send MSR back to where it was in 2022 and 2023, but I don't think MSR is a lock for a top ten championship finisher every year just because it is MSR and the last two years have been the best this team has been in IndyCar. The IMSA program is gone and it will put all focus on the IndyCar effort, but that doesn’t mean the results will come. MSR could remain in the top ten, but it will be a mighty challenge to retain that spot.
