At the Xpel Grand Prix held on June 22nd in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Felix Rosenqvist overcame a difficult qualifying session to secure a podium finish at Road America. This remarkable achievement highlighted Rosenqvist’s skill and determination, helping Meyer Shank Racing earn a significant result despite starting 12th on the grid.
The Swedish driver reflected on his connection with Road America, recalling it as the venue of his first IndyCar career win. Although qualifying did not go as planned, Rosenqvist and his team implemented strategic moves that allowed him to maneuver through the field effectively during the race.
Overcoming Setbacks with Strong Race Strategy
During the weekend, Rosenqvist acknowledged that he had the pace but faltered in qualifying, which placed him in 12th position. Despite this, he trusted the potential of his Meyer Shank Sirius XM Honda and focused on race tactics involving multiple tire stints and capitalizing on caution periods.
“I felt the whole weekend we had good pace and in practice we were rolling well. Kind of messed up qualifying. Tried to do the carousel flat, and I lost it and I started P12. It wasn’t ideal, but I knew we had good pace in the car. My Meyer Shank Sirius XM Honda was just on rails. There was a lot of strategies going on. We did two black stints in the beginning and we held on pretty good, and especially in the restarts, it seemed like the blacks were pretty good, and they faded a bit when you got up to speed. But we capitalized on all those yellows, and I think that was to our advantage,”
—Felix Rosenqvist, Driver
He added that he did not need to conserve fuel, which allowed him to push consistently during qualifying laps in the race, contributing to his steady climb up the order. With this finish, Rosenqvist has moved up to sixth place in the championship, holding 190 points.
Meyer Shank Racing’s Improved Performance and Growing Ambitions
Alongside Rosenqvist, teammate Marcus Armstrong also delivered an impressive drive, moving from 15th to fifth place in the No. 66 SiriusXM/Root Insurance Honda. Together, their results represent Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian’s best non-Indy 500 outcome ever, as well as the team’s first double top-five finish in a single race.
Rosenqvist noted a cultural shift within the team, emphasizing how rising expectations and enhanced performance standards have propelled them to new heights.
“I feel like we’ve taken it to the next step,” he said. “I feel like we’re unhappy now if we’re not in the Fast 12 or even (Firestone) Fast Six. I think we’re just expecting a higher level, and it’s come down to I feel like we’re pretty quick everywhere, both in qualifying and in a race, and it’s just about executing strategy,”
—Felix Rosenqvist, Driver
This season, both Rosenqvist and Armstrong have recorded five top-10 finishes, with Armstrong showing noticeable progress by securing four top-10 placements in the last five races. Their consistent performances have strengthened Meyer Shank Racing’s presence in the NTT IndyCar Series.
Implications for Rosenqvist and Meyer Shank Racing Moving Forward
Felix Rosenqvist’s podium at Road America illustrates the team‘s growing competitiveness and strategic acumen, especially when faced with adversity. Their ability to maximize race conditions and execute plans under pressure signals a promising trajectory for the remainder of the season.
As Rosenqvist and Armstrong continue to build momentum, Meyer Shank Racing’s rising ambitions and refined approach may translate into further successes, bolstering their standing within the highly competitive IndyCar field.