Paddock Buzz: Felix Rosenqvist Consistently Speedy in MSR Farewell

Felix Rosenqvist has been fast at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. He just hasn’t finished well.

Rosenqvist (photo, top) starts third in the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Honda in the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey on Sunday, matching his starting position from 2024, his first season with the team. He finished 11th that day.

Sunday marks Rosenqvist’s final start with Meyer Shank Racing before he returns to Arrow McLaren next season. The Swede spent three seasons with the team from 2021-23 before moving to MSR in 2024.

Rosenqvist earned the pole for the 2023 race at Laguna Seca with Arrow McLaren, but his best finish in six starts at the 11-turn, 2.238-mile California road course is fourth in 2022.

This weekend, though, Rosenqvist has shown the kind of speed that could finally deliver his first podium or a victory at the track. He was second fastest in both practice sessions and qualified on a sun-filled Saturday behind NTT P1 Award winner Scott McLaughlin and 2026 series champion Alex Palou.

“This track has just always been pretty good for me,” Rosenqvist said. “Just haven't really been able to get a podium here, so would be a great way to finish it. Long race, though, tough race, physical. The car felt good every session. I think we haven't had a better shot than this in a while.”

The weekend has carried extra emotion for Rosenqvist, particularly after he helped Meyer Shank Racing earn its second series victory in the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on May 24. That ended the organization’s wait for its first INDYCAR SERIES win since Helio Castroneves won the 2021 Indianapolis 500.

FRO Leads Final Practice, Schumacher Second

Rosenqvist continued a strong final weekend with Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian by leading the final practice at 1 minute, 10.4275 seconds in the team’s No. 60 Honda.

The Swede’s replacement next season at MSR, rookie Mick Schumacher (photo, above), was second at 1:10.7058 in the No. 47 Vanda Honda in his final race with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. NTT P1 Award winner McLaughlin backed up that speed by ending up third at 1:10.8351 in the No. 3 DEX Team Penske Chevrolet.

SEE: Final Practice Results | Starting Lineup/Tire Choice

Six-time series champion Scott Dixon was fourth at 1:10.9001 in the No. 9 PNC Bank CGR Honda in his final race weekend with Chip Ganassi Racing after 25 years with the team. Dixon is joining Rosenqvist in Arrow McLaren’s lineup next season with team mainstay Pato O’Ward.

Kyle Kirkwood rounded out the top five at 1:10.9021 in the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda of Andretti Global.

There was one incident involving contact in the 30-minute session. Sting Ray Robb was unhurt when his No. 77 Juncos Hollinger – Goodheart Chevrolet hit the barrier in Turn 10 approximately six minutes into the practice.

Rossi Having Solid Weekend

Alexander Rossi earned his best starting spot on a permanent road course since qualifying seventh last year at Portland International Raceway.

Rossi (photo, above) starts fourth in the No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet, continuing a strong weekend for the organization.

“Road courses have been a huge struggle for us this season,” Rossi said. “But I think the last couple we’ve started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s nice to get a result for the organization after what’s been a super challenging year on both cars for a multitude of reasons.”

Rossi started 11th, 13th, 21st, 18th and 19th, respectively, on the five permanent road courses this season. Those struggles helped give the team a clear focus.

“A lot of effort has been put into this,” Rossi said. “There’s still a long way to go. Sunday is obviously where it all actually matters. A very good day, nonetheless.”

Rossi said a test session earlier this season helped ECR unlock some secrets of speed on road courses.

“There’s no magic bullet,” Rossi said. “It’s just been understanding how to fix it. Sometimes we have to really go through it before we find out way out.”

Rossi has been fast from the get-go this weekend, one of five drivers to rank in the top 10 in both practice sessions. He was ninth Friday and eighth Saturday morning.

“The car I just qualified was the same setup we unloaded with,” Rossi said.

Odds and Ends

• Kirkwood said he was honored to be gifted an American flag that was flying on the United States Capitol Building on Sunday, Aug. 23, the day he won the inaugural Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. He was given the flag Friday night at a team dinner.

• McLaughlin (photo, above) earned his third career pole on a road course. He won the race the previous two times, in 2022 at Portland and 2024 at Barber Motorsports Park.

• Since the start of the 2016 season, Honda has 91 victories and Chevrolet 91.

• As part of Sunday’s pre-race festivities, team owner Bobby Rahal will take a lap in the car he drove to victory in the 1986 Indianapolis 500. Rahal captured his first major race victory at Laguna Seca in the Can-Am Series in 1979, and the track went on to become his most successful as a driver. He won four consecutive INDYCAR SERIES races at Laguna Seca from 1984-87, including the 1985 race from pole, and added a third-place finish in 1992 for five podiums. Rahal’s four consecutive victories remain the most in track history.