Latest news with #MeyerShank
Fox News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox News
INDYCAR Power Rankings: It's Alex Palou's World
The run for Pato O'Ward atop these INDYCAR rankings didn't last all that long. It's Alex Palou's world and the rest of the drivers are just living in it, recognizing that they could have an excellent season and still not match Palou. Palou's eight wins give him the chance to clinch the title at the next race in two weeks at Portland. He sits 121 points ahead of O'Ward and needs to leave Portland with a 108-point lead to clinch his fourth championship. Here's how the drivers stack up after the weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca: Dropped out: Rinus VeeKay (Last Week: 10) On the verge: Josef Newgarden, Graham Rahal, Christian Rasmussen 10. David Malukas (Last Week: 8) Malukas had a strong qualifying effort in making the Fast Six but was 13th in the race. That's still two top 10s in his last three starts and no finish worse than 15th since early May for the A.J. Foyt Racing driver. He's 10th in the standings. 9. Felix Rosenqvist (Last Week: 6) Rosenqvist found himself in the barrier in the opening lap after contact from Kyffin Simpson. He wound up 24th. He started 12th, so that can happen in the middle of the pack, but the Meyer Shank driver never got to show what he had. He's sixth in the standings. 8. Will Power (Last Week: Not Ranked) Power started fifth and finished seventh as the top-running Team Penske driver in the race. He's ninth in the standings despite two engine issues in the last month. 7. Kyle Kirkwood (Last Week: 4) Kirkwood had a race to forget, as he was penalized with a stop-and-go for avoidable contact when he got into Rinus VeeKay. He finished 16th and was mathematically eliminated from championship contention. The Andretti driver is still fourth in the standings. 6. Marcus Armstrong (Last Week: 5) Armstrong continues to have a workman-like season, starting 10th and finishing eighth. The Meyer Shank driver has eight top 10s in the last nine races and is eighth in the standings. 5. Colton Herta (Last Week: 9) Herta started third and finished third for his second podium of the season. The Andretti driver now has back-to-back finishes of fourth and third and maybe has found his groove. This could be a little bit late for the 2025 season but still good to see. He is seventh in the series standings. 4. Scott Dixon (Last Week: 3) Dixon was ninth and finished fifth for his sixth top five of the season. A teammate of Palou's at Ganassi and a six-time champion himself, Dixon (third in the standings) was mathematically eliminated from having a shot at the title. 3. Christian Lundgaard (Last Week: 7) Lundgaard's second-place finish was his fifth podium of the season in a year when he still seeks his first win. He ran a solid race but still finished 3.8 seconds behind Palou. The Arrow McLaren driver is fifth in the standings. 2. Pato O'Ward (Last Week: 1) O'Ward wasn't the happiest with his car but still muscled his way to a fourth-place finish. The Arrow McLaren driver is still mathematically alive in the championship hunt, but he is a distant second at 121 points behind Palou. 1. Alex Palou (Last Week: 2) Another pole. Another win. Another race where he earned max points. The Ganassi driver looked pretty much unbeatable on the way to his eighth victory of the year and would need a huge collapse and an O'Ward surge to get beat for the title. Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
Fox Sports
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
INDYCAR Power Rankings: It's Alex Palou's World
The run for Pato O'Ward atop these INDYCAR rankings didn't last all that long. It's Alex Palou's world and the rest of the drivers are just living in it, recognizing that they could have an excellent season and still not match Palou. Palou's eight wins give him the chance to clinch the title at the next race in two weeks at Portland. He sits 121 points ahead of O'Ward and needs to leave Portland with a 108-point lead to clinch his fourth championship. Here's how the drivers stack up after the weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca: Dropped out: Rinus VeeKay (Last Week: 10) On the verge: Josef Newgarden, Graham Rahal, Christian Rasmussen 10. David Malukas (Last Week: 8) Malukas had a strong qualifying effort in making the Fast Six but was 13th in the race. That's still two top 10s in his last three starts and no finish worse than 15th since early May for the A.J. Foyt Racing driver. He's 10th in the standings. 9. Felix Rosenqvist (Last Week: 6) Rosenqvist found himself in the barrier in the opening lap after contact from Kyffin Simpson. He wound up 24th. He started 12th, so that can happen in the middle of the pack, but the Meyer Shank driver never got to show what he had. He's sixth in the standings. 8. Will Power (Last Week: Not Ranked) Power started fifth and finished seventh as the top-running Team Penske driver in the race. He's ninth in the standings despite two engine issues in the last month. 7. Kyle Kirkwood (Last Week: 4) Kirkwood had a race to forget, as he was penalized with a stop-and-go for avoidable contact when he got into Rinus VeeKay. He finished 16th and was mathematically eliminated from championship contention. The Andretti driver is still fourth in the standings. 6. Marcus Armstrong (Last Week: 5) Armstrong continues to have a workman-like season, starting 10th and finishing eighth. The Meyer Shank driver has eight top 10s in the last nine races and is eighth in the standings. 5. Colton Herta (Last Week: 9) Herta started third and finished third for his second podium of the season. The Andretti driver now has back-to-back finishes of fourth and third and maybe has found his groove. This could be a little bit late for the 2025 season but still good to see. He is seventh in the series standings. 4. Scott Dixon (Last Week: 3) Dixon was ninth and finished fifth for his sixth top five of the season. A teammate of Palou's at Ganassi and a six-time champion himself, Dixon (third in the standings) was mathematically eliminated from having a shot at the title. 3. Christian Lundgaard (Last Week: 7) Lundgaard's second-place finish was his fifth podium of the season in a year when he still seeks his first win. He ran a solid race but still finished 3.8 seconds behind Palou. The Arrow McLaren driver is fifth in the standings. 2. Pato O'Ward (Last Week: 1) O'Ward wasn't the happiest with his car but still muscled his way to a fourth-place finish. The Arrow McLaren driver is still mathematically alive in the championship hunt, but he is a distant second at 121 points behind Palou. 1. Alex Palou (Last Week: 2) Another pole. Another win. Another race where he earned max points. The Ganassi driver looked pretty much unbeatable on the way to his eighth victory of the year and would need a huge collapse and an O'Ward surge to get beat for the title. Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Miami Herald
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
St. Thomas University students will get a taste of motor sports through race team sponsorship
Jeff Plunkett was trembling. Plunkett is what some might call a nerd. He is the dean of St. Thomas University's College of Health, Sciences and Technology. He earned his Ph.D. in neurobiology at Georgia State, and he completed his post-doctoral training at the University of Miami. But Plunkett is also a gearhead. He has been to Daytona International Speedway more than 50 times, and that's why he was so thrilled recently when STU announced a partnership with the Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) team. 'I'm a huge racing fan,' Plunkett said. 'I'm shaking. I'm so excited.' STU will sponsor Meyer Shank in the IndyCar Milwaukee Mile on Aug. 24. Other universities have forged similar relationships with racing teams through the years. Texas A&M has sponsored both NASCAR and IndyCar teams. Indiana University has a Motorsports Engineering program that partners with IndyCar. And Purdue has a long history with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including the Purdue Grand Prix. But Michael Shank, one of the owners of MSR Racing, said that the partnership with STU is unique. 'Purdue and some of those other schools have race-engineering-based classes,' Shank told the Miami Herald. 'These are kids who want to do mechanical engineering and aerodynamic engineering and can get a motor sports degree. But what we're doing here is different.' The difference, Shank said, is that STU students — across many majors — will contribute to MSR. For example: STU's fashion students will create a new fire suit for MSR driver Marcus Armstrong to wear on race day. Dr. Ashlee Rzyczycki, the program director for STU's Fashion, Merchandising and Design major, has issued a challenge to her students to 'create a look that is fashion forward and yet captures the essence or car racing.' The top six designs will be sent to the Meyer Shank team, which will narrow it down to three. From there, fans will choose the winning design on social media. 'It's not just about the fashion of the suit,' Rzyczycki said. 'It's about the technical aspects. It's about marketing and branding.' Armstrong said he likes colorful suits. 'You can really get away with going extra [on racing suits],' he said. 'There's no such thing as too much. … I don't know if I should've said that [laughs], but I'm looking forward to seeing what the students come up with.' Marieth Useche, an 18-year-old freshman from Venezuela who enrolled at STU in January, has come up with three sports drinks that Armstrong can use for hydration on race day. She created three flavors and gave them names that are apropos: Victory Lap Mint Mojito; Push 2 Pass Passion Fruit Mai Tai; and Pole Position Mango Mojito. In her presentation to the Meyer Shank team, Useche mentioned that temperatures can reach over 140 degrees in a race car and that drivers can lose five to 10 pounds during a race from sweating. 'Hydration is key for motor sports athletes to maintain focus and energy for the entire race,' she said. 'Dehydration can result in a reduced response time and in difficulty in concentration.' Naeve Duarte, who plays on the STU women's basketball team and is a master's degree student, gave a pitch to MSR based on a partnership with Neuralink, a neurotechnology company founded by Elon Musk. 'The driver will wear a headset that will record the driver's brain data in real time as he or she moves around the track,' Duarte said. This information will be useful for the Meyer Shank team, but, Duarte said it will also 'give fans an opportunity to experience what a driver goes through in a racing simulator.' Plunkett's science and technology students will get a look at the actual numbers that impact racing. 'Gone are the days where you used to build a car in the garage, take it to the track and have the engine succeed or fail,' Plunkett said. 'Today, with all the parity in Indy Racing, NASCAR and Formula 1, it comes down to milliseconds. Data given from the driver and the car to the team can make the difference between winning and second place.' Plunkett said he has already met with MSR engineers. 'Our students will be able to compare MSR's data to other racing teams and say, 'Here is where we can have an advantage.' 'It's going to be fascinating.' In the future, Plunkett will look to his exercise and physiology team to study potential performance enhancements for drivers. If this goes well, Plunkett said, team owners could pick drivers that have certain performance markers. 'Think of it like the NFL Draft where all those athletes get measured and tested at the [scouting] combine,' Plunkett said. 'The same could one day be true for drivers due to on-track and off-track testing.' In addition to all of this, Shank said there might be an opportunity for an STU student to update the MSR logo, which is 20 years old. About the partnership in general, Armstrong said: 'We have a lot of experienced people in our industry, but we don't have as much creative people who will think outside the box.' The deal between STU and Meyer Shank was first discussed in April 2024. Marc Cannon, who is on STU's Board of Trustees and is also a major sponsor of Meyer Shank, made the introduction. In January, STU President David A. Armstrong met with Shank and fellow MSR owners Helio Castroneves and Tim Meyer. Castroneves, who is one of only four drivers who has won the Indy 500 a record four times, was immediately sold on the idea. 'But he wanted it to be innovative,' Cannon said. 'He wanted it to have a purpose.' David Armstrong — no relation to MSR driver Marcus Armstrong — was initially concerned about whether STU could financially afford the sponsorship. 'I said, 'Don't worry about it — we'll make it affordable,'' Cannon said. 'MSR won't make any money on the deal.' Cannon said the price tag is $250,000 — less than half of what a sponsorship would normally cost. In return, STU gets great publicity, including its logo on the car and racing suit, and a valuable experience for its student. Meyer Shank gets some new ideas. It's a win-win-win. 'The business of racing is massive,' David Armstrong said. 'For our students who are majoring in sports administration, this is great for them to be a part of because of the amount of money that's in racing. It's insane — from the cars, to the advertising and to all the people involved. 'Plus, education should be fun. This will be a fun opportunity, and I can't wait to see the end product in Milwaukee.' Cannon said a few other racing teams have already tried to find out details of what Meyer Shank is cooking up with STU. Shank, meanwhile, said he usually talks to other car owners. Getting ideas from a younger generation is appealing. 'I'm all in,' Shank said. Driver Marcus Armstrong is just 24 years old, but prior to coming to St. Thomas for the announcement of this deal, he had never set foot on a college campus. A native of New Zealand, Armstrong left home at age 13, living in Italy as he chased his driver dreams. But because he is now in this partnership with STU, someone asked if the university might give him an honorary degree. That's when David Armstrong got the last word on the question of an honorary degree. 'If he wins,' STU's president said with a smile, 'because that's what we do here at STU.'
Indianapolis Star
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
Alex Palou wins the 2025 Indianapolis 500. Here are the final results, finishing order
Alex Palou won the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. Palou's victory marked the first time he has won on an oval. Here are the final results. (Start position in parentheses) 1. (10) Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda 2. (28) Marcus Ericsson (W), Andretti Global, Honda 3. (4) David Malukas, A.J. Foyt Racing, Chevrolet 4. (5) Pato O'Ward, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet 5. (60) Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank, Honda 6. (27) Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global, Honda 7. (14) Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Racing, Chevrolet 8. (21) Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet 9. (7) Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet 10. (76) Conor Daly, Juncos Hollinger Racing, Chevrolet 11. (75) Takuma Sato (W), Rahal Letterman Lanigan, Honda 12. (90) Callum Ilott, Prema, Chevrolet 13. (06) Helio Castroneves (W), Meyer Shank, Honda 14. (30) Devlin DeFrancesco, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, Honda 15. (45) Louis Foster (R), Rahal Letterman Lanigan, Honda 16. (6) Nolan Siegel (R), Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet 17. (26) Colton Herta, Andretti Global, Honda 18. (33) Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet 19. (12) Will Power (W), Team Penske, Chevrolet 20. (15) Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, Honda 21. (66) Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank, Honda 22. (24) Jack Harvey, Dreyer & Reinbold/Cusick, Chevrolet 23. (9) Scott Dixon (W), Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda 24. (23) Ryan Hunter-Reay (W), Dreyer & Reinbold/Cusick, Chevrolet 25. (2) Josef Newgarden (W), Team Penske, Chevrolet 26. (77) Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Hollinger, Chevrolet 27. (17) Kyle Larson, Arrow McLaren/Hendrick, Chevrolet 28. (8) Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda 29. (83) Robert Shwartzman (R), Prema, Chevrolet 30. (18) Rinus VeeKay, Dale Coyne Racing, Honda 31. (20) Alexander Rossi (W), Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet 32. (98) Marco Andretti, Andretti Global, Honda
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Indy 500 leaderboard update: Scott McLaughlin, Marco Andretti crash out; who's leading?
Scott McLaughlin and Marco Andretti crashed out early in the 2025 Indianapolis 500 on Sunday after the 109th running of the iconic American race was delayed because of weather. McLaughlin crashed in practice, and he did not take part in the fast 12 qualifying. Meanwhile, Marco Andretti wrecked his car in the opening lap. Daly, Rossi, and others, through the 31st, moved up two places after Josef Newgarden and Will Power were found to have had illegal modifications. 1. (83) Robert Shwartzman (R), Chevrolet, Prema, 232.790 Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. 2. (75) Takuma Sato (W), Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, 232.478 3. (5) Pato O'Ward, Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren, 232.098 2025 Indy 500 Row 2 4. (9) Scott Dixon (W), Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing, 232.052 5. (60) Felix Rosenqvist, Honda, Meyer Shank, 231.987 6. (10) Alex Palou, Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing, 231.378 2025 Indy 500 Row 3 7. (4) David Malukas, Chevrolet, AJ Foyt Racing, 231.599 8. (7) Christian Lundgaard, Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren, 231.360 9. (28) Marcus Ericsson (W), Honda, Andretti Global, 231.014 2025 Indy 500 Row 4 10. (3) Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, Team Penske, no speed* 11. (76) Conor Daly, Chevrolet, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 231.725 12. (20) Alexander Rossi (W), Chevrolet, Ed Carpenter Racing, 231.701 2025 Indy 500 Row 5 13. (8) Kyffin Simpson, Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing, 231.641 14. (33) Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet, Ed Carpenter Racing, 231.633 15. (14) Santino Ferrucci, Chevrolet, AJ Foyt Racing, 231.593 2025 Indy 500 Row 6 16. (30) Devlin DeFrancesco, Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, 231.575 17. (77) Sting Ray Robb, Chevrolet, Juncos Hollinger, 231.461 18. (21) Christian Rasmussen, Chevrolet, Ed Carpenter Racing, 231.438 2025 Indy 500 Row 7 19. (17) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren/Hendrick, 231.326 20. (45) Louis Foster (R), Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, 231.058 21. (90) Callum Ilott, Chevrolet, Prema, 230.993 2025 Indy 500 Row 8 22. (06) Helio Castroneves (W), Honda, Meyer Shank, 230.978 23. (27) Kyle Kirkwood, Honda, Andretti Global, 230.917 24. (6) Nolan Siegel (R), Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren, 230.571 2025 Indy 500 Row 9 25. (23) Ryan Hunter-Reay (W), Chevrolet, Dreyer & Reinbold/Cusick, 230.363 26. (24) Jack Harvey, Chevrolet, Dreyer & Reinbold/Cusick, 230.348 27. (26) Colton Herta, Honda, Andretti Global, 230.192 2025 Indy 500 Row 10 28. (15) Graham Rahal, Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, 229.863 29. (98) Marco Andretti, Honda, Andretti Global, 229.741 30. (66) Marcus Armstrong, Honda, Meyer Shank, 229.091 2025 Indy 500 Row 11 31. (18) Rinus Veekay, Honda, Dale Coyne Racing, 226.913 32. (2) Josef Newgarden (W), Chevrolet, Team Penske, no speed* 33. (12) Will Power (W), Chevrolet, Team Penske, no speed* Check the leaderboard HERE
