Rosenqvist’s Road America Love Affair: How a Favorite Track and Meyer Shank Racing’s Turnaround Sparked a Season Revival
Some drivers have circuits where they simply thrive. For Felix Rosenqvist, that place is Road America—a track that seems to consistently bring out his best performances. But this time, his success wasn’t just about his comfort at the sweeping Wisconsin circuit—it was also the latest chapter in Meyer Shank Racing’s remarkable turnaround.
What began as a challenging season has quietly transformed into a story of steady growth, precise execution, and a driver-team combination finding its rhythm at just the right time.
Road America: Where It All Started
Rosenqvist’s connection to Road America is no coincidence. It’s the site of his first career IndyCar victory back in 2020, and it has consistently been a place where he shines. Fast forward to 2025, and the Swedish driver is still delivering top-tier performances at the four-mile classic.
“Good memories from here,” Rosenqvist said after securing his best finish of the season. “I had my first win here, and we’ve had a couple of good results in the past. It’s always special to do well at this track.”
Even this weekend wasn’t a perfect start. A small mistake in qualifying left Rosenqvist starting from 12th, but he knew Road America would give him a chance to fight back. His Meyer Shank Racing Honda was quick all weekend, and the team executed flawlessly on race day.
“There was a lot going on with the strategies, but we capitalized on all those yellows and made the right calls,” he said. “At the end of the race, we didn’t have to save any fuel, and we had two new reds—we were just doing qualifying laps every lap.”
Rosenqvist’s late-race charge nearly mirrored his 2020 victory, chasing down Alex Palou in a thrilling finish. The parallels weren’t lost on him.
“It was kind of déjà-vu from my first win here with Pato,” Rosenqvist smiled. “I could see Alex’s car getting bigger and bigger, but we just ran out of time.”
Why Road America Works for Rosenqvist
Some tracks simply suit certain driving styles, and Road America’s mix of high-speed straights, flowing corners, and heavy braking zones seems to fit Rosenqvist’s natural rhythm.
“This is one of the absolute highlights of the year,” Rosenqvist said. “The track races really well, especially now that it’s been repaved and bedded in. You can run the high line, and there aren’t as many marbles as other places. It’s one of the best racing tracks we have.”
Rosenqvist’s consistent ability to master restarts, manage tire wear, and read chaotic situations has made him a frequent Road America standout. But this year, the difference wasn’t just about him—it was about the team.
Meyer Shank Racing’s Quiet Revolution
While Rosenqvist has always had pace, Meyer Shank Racing hasn’t always provided him with the platform to fully deliver. That’s changing in 2025.
This season marks a significant step forward for MSR, thanks in part to a growing technical alliance with Chip Ganassi Racing. The relationship has brought new resources, sharper setups, and a level of strategic sophistication that was missing in the past.
“It’s all in the details,” Rosenqvist said. “We’ve had really good race pace all year. Qualifying has been solid, and today the car was just on fire.”
For Rosenqvist, the key difference has been execution.
“You need to nail restarts, in-laps, out-laps, pit stops, strategy—that’s where the real gains are,” he explained. “Everyone is quick in this series, so when you’re all on the same fuel and tire, it’s the smallest things that make the difference.”
At Road America, those small things added up to one of MSR’s most complete races of the season. The pit stops were clean, the strategy was aggressive but smart, and the team avoided the mistakes that have plagued them in earlier rounds.
A New Level of Confidence
The partnership with Ganassi has also introduced shared data, deeper engineering resources, and closer ties that have undoubtedly accelerated MSR’s competitiveness.
“It’s really working well with Marcus [Armstrong] and the Ganassi guys,” Rosenqvist said. “We’ve been building this connection all year, and you can see it starting to pay off.”
What’s most striking is that Rosenqvist isn’t just running well—he’s genuinely enjoying the process. The confidence radiates from the entire team, from the pit stand to the mechanics.
“It’s been a bit of an unlucky couple of races for us, so this one means a lot,” Rosenqvist said. “The guys on the team deserved this. They’ve been working so hard, especially in the heat today. Everyone’s pushing.”
The Road Ahead
Meyer Shank Racing’s 2025 turnaround isn’t an overnight story—it’s the result of persistence, strategic adjustments, and a driver who never stopped believing that results were possible. Road America, once again, provided the perfect backdrop for Rosenqvist to remind everyone just how fast—and how dangerous—he can be.
It’s not just about loving a track. It’s about what happens when a driver finds a circuit that speaks to his strengths and a team that finally has the tools to capitalize.
For Rosenqvist and MSR, Road America keeps giving—but now, they’re ready to take that momentum beyond Wisconsin.
“I think we’ve found something really solid,” Rosenqvist said. “We’ve just got to keep going now. This is where we build.”
And with the way things are clicking, this could just be the start of something even bigger.
written by Philipp Kraus / Media Credit: Penske Entertainment