- Felix Rosenqvist moves to fourth in standings after Road America podium
- “It’s just a big confidence boost, and I think that’s what’s really been missing,” he says
- MSR climbs from backmarker status to legitimate contender in just two seasons
Felix Rosenqvist and Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) are no longer just building in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES — they’re contending. With a determined second-place finish and fastest race lap at Road America, Rosenqvist surged to fourth in the championship standings, the highest he’s ever ranked this deep into a season.
“I feel like we’ve definitely taken it to the next step,” Rosenqvist said. “We’re sitting pretty good.”
He now trails points leader Alex Palou by 155 points with eight races remaining. That gap may be significant, but the turnaround from MSR’s recent struggles is even more so. Just two years ago, MSR’s No. 60 entry ended the season 25th in the entrant standings. Last year, in their first season together, Rosenqvist and MSR jumped to 12th. Now, with six top-10 finishes in nine races, they’ve climbed into the series elite.
“There’s some really smart people on the team,” Rosenqvist said. “I feel like it’s a confidence thing, as well. Everyone’s just more relaxed. The pit crew is happier. It’s just a big confidence boost, and I think that’s what’s really been missing.”
That confidence was tested after Detroit, where a late-race crash with rookie Louis Foster left Rosenqvist 21st and required a complete rebuild of the No. 60 Honda. A 16th-place run at World Wide Technology Raceway followed, capping a bruising six-week stretch.
“Behind the scenes, we’ve had a lot of technical stuff going on,” he explained. “We had to split the car apart (after Detroit crash) and build it back together. This stretch had been wearing on the guys. It’s hard. This is a really tough championship for everyone.”
Unlike 2024, when a strong start gave way to a second-half slump, Rosenqvist and MSR have rebounded from their midseason adversity. Last year, after six top-10s in the first seven races, Rosenqvist added just one more in the remaining 11. This year, they’ve already equalled that early-season success — and are still trending upward.
“It’s all about the details,” Rosenqvist said. “We’re always quick.”
The next step is clear: winning. Rosenqvist’s last victory came in 2020 at Road America, and MSR’s only INDYCAR win remains the 2021 Indianapolis 500 with Helio Castroneves. But they’re no longer outliers in the field — they’re in the fight with the likes of Ganassi and Andretti.
Sunday’s Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio could provide the breakthrough. Not only is the circuit a favorite of Rosenqvist’s, but it’s also MSR’s home track, with team headquarters just 75 miles away in Pataskala, Ohio.
“I love Mid-Ohio,” Rosenqvist said. “Honestly, Road America and Mid-Ohio are two of my favorites. Mid-Ohio, I had my first podium, and I had my first win at Road America (in 2020).
“I can’t wait to go back to Mid-Ohio. I don’t just say that because it’s like a home race. I literally love that place. A lot of fans come there, the track layout, it’s just a really cool race. True race car fans.”
The Road America podium may have been a sign of MSR’s arrival — now all that’s left is a win to prove it.
If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow Motorsport Reports on Microsoft Start.
