The Two Indy 500 Winners Join Tom Blomqvist to Defend Rolex 24 Victory in the Team’s New Acura ARX-06
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Meyer Shank Racing is bringing back its pair of Indy 500 winners to bolster the team’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship lineup for the 2023 endurance races in its new Acura ARX-06.
Meyer Shank announced Tuesday that four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves and 2019 Indy 500 winner Simon Pagenaud – both drivers for MSR’s IndyCar Series program – will join Tom Blomqvist, the team’s full-season WeatherTech Championship driver, in the Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian Acura for the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona in the new Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class. Castroneves also will be a co-driver at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts and the Motul Petit Le Mans. The remainder of MSR’s WeatherTech Championship driver lineup will be named later.
MSR returns to the Rolex 24 as defending champion in the top prototype class. Blomqvist, Castroneves, Pagenaud and Oliver Jarvis were victorious in January driving the No. 60 Acura ARX-05 in the Daytona Prototype international (DPi) class that is being replaced by GTP in 2023.
Blomqvist, Jarvis and the No. 60 went on to win the DPi season championship, clinching the WeatherTech Championship crown as well as the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup at Motul Petit Le Mans earlier this month with Castroneves as the third driver. They’re looking for more success next season in the hybrid-based GTP class.
“I’m super excited to come back to MSR and IMSA for the three long distance races,” said Castroneves, the 47-year-old Brazilian who captured the 2020 DPi championship with Acura Team Penske and has nine career IMSA wins. “I’m especially looking forward to driving the new Acura ARX-06. I know that the team has been working super hard to learn and understand a completely new machine. I’m hoping for much success just like the previous machine!”
Pagenaud, the 2016 IndyCar Series champion, appreciates the chance to continue working with Acura and Honda Performance Development, who have powered all 11 of his IMSA victories.
“I am extremely delighted to be part of the roster with MSR and Acura in this new era of sports car racing,” the 38-year-old Frenchman said. “My career took off worldwide because of the opportunity I got with Acura to race the LMP2 car back in 2008. A lot of miles have been driven since and many trophies on the way!
“More recently winning the Rolex 24 as one of the world’s crown jewels in racing with my MSR Acura team was exceptional. I cannot wait for the future and I want to thank both MSR and Acura for having me join them in the opportunity to drive and help develop this new Acura LMDh.”
The 2023 season gets underway with the Roar Before the Rolex 24 test sessions Jan. 20-22 at Daytona International Speedway. The 61st running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona takes place Jan. 28-29.