West Coast Week 2: Meyer Shank Racing Ready for INDYCAR’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey

Pataskala, Ohio (13 September 2021) – Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) is ready to tackle its second consecutive weekend of racing at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (WRLS), but this time for INDYCAR’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey on Sunday (3:00pm ET, NBC, SiriusXM Ch. 205).

Although the trip to Monterey will be its the second in INDYCAR competition, MSR has a 14 year long history at the 2.238-mile road course. Out of 24 total entries at WRLS – the majority coming from the team’s IMSA program – MSR has come away victorious three times (2016,2018, 2020), with two of those coming after starting from pole (2018 & 2020) .

MSR will once again bring its stable of drivers with Jack Harvey in the No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda and Helio Castroneves in the No. 06 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda to the picturesque and challenging road course that includes the legendary Corkscrew turn that drops 59 feet in just 450 feet of track length.

MSR and Harvey last competed at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in 2019 – and with a 19th place finish, the pair are hoping to maximized lessons learned from a test at WRLS earlier this year.

“Ultimately, we just want the west coast to be kind to us,” said Harvey. “I want to go and just focus on each weekend as they come. Last weekend the focus was in Portland and this week it will be in Laguna. We’re going to prepare well during the week and keep the momentum going. Three top-tens in a row and we’re so close to podiums right now, so I just want to get one.”

It’s been 20 years since Castroneves made his last race start at WRLS and now the Brazilian is looking to come back in a big way. Despite only having made four race starts at the Northern California circuit in CART, Castroneves claimed victory in his third start in 2000. The Brazilian’s 2000 win at WRLS was a fuel economy race, with Castroneves showing his expertise on fuel saving and leading all but two laps.

“Laguna Seca is a phenomenal track,” said Castroneves. “I love that place, the corkscrew is an iconic corner and it’s going to be a lot of fun. Last year in the IMSA sports car program we ended up winning the race. I won in INDYCAR there before as well. It’s a place that brings me great memories and I can’t wait to go back.”

The Firestone Monterey Grand Prix will be staged on Sunday, September 19th with broadcast coverage on NBC beginning at 3:00pm ET. SiriusXM will also provide live radio coverage of the 90 lap race on XM Ch. 205.

Media Contact: Maddie Komar
maddie@sundaymanagement.com