Meyer Shank Racing announced Friday that it will be a full-time NTT IndyCar Series team beginning with the 2020 season.
The expansion of the Ohio-based operation has been steady and sure since its entry into the 2017 Indianapolis 500. The team competed in six races in 2018 and 10 races this year.
There are 17 races on INDYCAR’s 2020 calendar, beginning with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 15.
In addition, the team announced Friday that Jack Harvey has signed an extension to drive the No. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda, and there is a new alliance with Andretti Technologies.
"It's great that we are able to officially announce our full season effort for the 2020 INDYCAR season,” MSR co-owner Jim Meyer said. “This team and Mike (Shank) have worked very hard over the last two INDYCAR seasons to put us in a position where we can come back full time. It’s also exciting to have both SiriusXM and AutoNation return on board the No. 60; both have been outstanding parties to work with.”
The 2019 season produced the team’s most competitive results to date. In just the team’s 12th series race, Harvey scored their first podium finish -- a third at the INDYCAR Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May. Harvey placed in the top ten of four races in the recently completed season.
Harvey has played a critical role in bringing the team’s sponsors together and is excited to continue to build the already strong relationships he has with the MSR crew, AutoNation and SiriusXM.
“This is the moment that we all work so extremely hard for,” Harvey said. “I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to go racing with Meyer Shank Racing, AutoNation and SiriusXM full time. We have shown we can be competitive, and I can’t wait to build on that and get started on another multi-year program with this group.
“This is the first time in four years I’ll be competing full time, I owe that to Michael (Shank), Jim (Meyer), Marc (Cannon), my manager Bob (Perona) and my family for the support and belief. I’ve never been so excited to go racing."
Said Shank: “These last two years we have been taking the season in stride and really learning how to build our program to the point where we can run all 17 races. This year has been great and Jack has produced some spectacular results for us and we, as a team, are proud to have him back next year. And of course, all of this would not be possible without AutoNation and SiriusXM who have worked side by side with us from the very beginning and they are a big factor in getting our program to where it is right now.
“Of course sticking by Honda was a very important decision to me. We have stood by HPD and Honda for many years in both the sports car and INDYCAR paddocks and to be able to continue to work with them in 2020 is something I am really grateful for.”
Shank said he feels “very strong” about the partnership with Andretti Technologies and believes it will be “a mutually beneficial program.” MSR partnered with Andretti Autosport for the 2017 Indianapolis 500.
“This group together is really where this journey started,” Harvey said. “Consistently, they have shown they are one of the best teams and hopefully we can both continue to have strong seasons next year.”
AutoNation, America’s largest automotive retailer, has been on the MSR Indy car since its 2017 Indianapolis 500 debut has become a staple at INDYCAR events with its DRV PNK initiative and traveling Shasta photo booth.
AutoNation’s DRV PNK initiative aims to spread awareness and raise money for cancer research and treatment. The automotive retailer has raised over $20 million dollars towards cancer research. AutoNation continues to spread awareness through its traveling Shasta photo booth which has made an appearance at several INDYCAR races, including the season opener in St. Petersburg, Fla., as well as at Circuit of The Americas.
“MSR, SiriusXM and Jack have been terrific partners and supporters of AutoNation and DRV PNK,” said Marc Cannon, AutoNation’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “We’re excited to announce the continuation of our partnership and are looking forward to a great 2020 season.”
SiriusXM, world’s largest audio entertainment company will also return onboard the MSR Indy car for the 2020 season. SiriusXM airs every NTT IndyCar race on its dedicated IndyCar channel and offers subscribers extensive Indianapolis 500 coverage with live radio shows hosted at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. SiriusXM and MSR will also work together to give subscribers truly one-of-a-kind experiences with the opportunity to attend a race, get a special tour of the garage and meet with Harvey.
“We are proud to continue to support Meyer Shank Racing and Jack Harvey’s No. 60 car as they expand to a full season in 2020,” said Richard Beatty, SiriusXM’s SVP of Marketing. “We were very happy to see their success last year on the track and as the team continues to build on that momentum we are very pleased to have SiriusXM along for the ride.”