Major Changes In IndyCar Featuring Scott Dixon, Felix Rosenqvist, Christian Lundgaard, Pato O’Ward, Tony Kanaan, Marcus Armstrong, Michael Shank, And Much More

Roger Penske:

This is Roger Penske and you're listening to Pit Pass Indy, sponsored by Penske Truck Rental.

Bruce Martin:

Welcome to Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental, as we continue our sixth season of giving IndyCar fans an inside look at the most exciting form of racing on the planet, the NTT IndyCar Series. We welcome back our friends from Penske Truck Rental who return as the presenting sponsor of Pit Pass Indy. Penske Truck Rental helps Pit Pass Indy bring you the inside stories of IndyCar from the paddock to the racetrack to the highways and streets of America. And this season, Penske Truck Rental and Pit Pass Indy help celebrate Team Penske's 60th anniversary. As the host of Pit Pass Indy, I'm honored and humbled to be recognized for Outstanding Achievement as the 2026 Society of Professional Motorsports Journalists On-Air Broadcaster of the Year, presented at this year's 110th Indianapolis 500. The award is for the hard work all of us at Evergreen Podcast and Front Porch Media have invested into making Pit Pass Indy one of the leading podcasts in the motorsports category. And a special thanks to our loyal listeners who continue to help Pit Pass Indie grow. There was an incredible amount of news that developed last week leading into and out of the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. That news included six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon and this year's Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenquist had both officially signed with Errol McLaren beginning with the 2027 season. Both moves had been widely discussed in the past two weeks, but it is now official as Errol McLaren announced its 2027 NTT IndyCar Series driver lineup on Monday, July 6th. Dixon, perhaps the greatest IndyCar Series driver in history by many metrics, has six IndyCar Series championships and 59 career IndyCar wins. Both are second to the great A. J. Foyt in terms of all-time records as Foyt won seven championships and 67 IndyCar races during his career. Dixon also won the 2008 Indianapolis 500. He has been part of Chip Ganansi Racing for an incredible 25 seasons beginning midway through the 2002 campaign. Rosenquist returns to Errol McLaren, a team he raced with from 2021 to 2023 before moving over to Myers-Shank Racing. Rosenquist won the 110th Indianapolis 500 on May 24th in the closest finish in the history of the race. The driver from Sweden defeated Team Penske's David Malukas by just 0. 0233 of a second. The two big names joined Pato Award to give Errol McLaren a powerhouse team for all NTT IndyCar Series races in 2027. The team expands to four drivers for the 111th Indianapolis 500 when Errol McLaren's Sporting Director, Ryan Hunter-Rey, returns to the cockpit in an extra entry for the Indy 500. To make room for Dixon and Rosenquist, Errol McLaren has informed current drivers Christian Lungard and Nolan Siegel that they are free to begin negotiations with other IndyCar teams for a ride beginning next season. Both drivers are at the end of their contracts with Errol McLaren, although the decision to let go of Lungard has created much debate because he has won two IndyCar races this season and has five podiums, including a second-place finish to award in the July 5th Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. Prior to that, Award had not won a race or finished on the podium this season. Siegel's departure was expected because the young driver has yet to finish higher than 23rd in the championship in each of his two IndyCar Series seasons. Lungard could move over to the number nine PNC Bank Honda that was Scott Dixon's ride through IndyCar history. Siegel has been mentioned for a ride at Junko's Hollinger Racing next season, although nothing is official or has been announced for either driver. One driver considered a possibility for the number nine Honda will be staying with his current team as Marcus Armstrong signed a contract extension to remain at Myers-Shank Racing. That deal was announced on Friday, July 3rd. This week's Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental has exclusive interviews with every driver involved in the dramatic news and a few that aren't. Let's start it off with an interview with Scott Dixon on Thursday, July 2nd, just hours after Chip Ganassi Racing issued a statement saying Dixon had told the team he was leaving at the end of the 2026 season. This was five days before Errol McLaren officially announced he would join the team.Scott Dixon, we're back at Mid-Ohio, and it only seems appropriate that in a lot of ways you're the big news of the day. But just how important is it to come back here? And also, how difficult is it to say goodbye to a team that you've been a member of since 2002?

Scott Dixon:

Yeah, no, it's always good to be back in Mid-Ohio. You know, last year, obviously, pretty crazy race and a good, you know, finish for the team, obviously, with a 1-2. And, you know, you've got to say it's definitely a stronghold, I think, throughout the years for this team and what they've achieved throughout. But definitely a lot of great memories here.

Bruce Martin:

you have a lot of racing left in you. So how important is it to maybe get a fresh start and a fresh perspective in the

Scott Dixon:

I don't want to say twilight years of your career, but in the latter part of your career. Yeah, you know, you always want to be competitive. You know, the fire still burns really strong. You know, I think change is inevitable at some point. And, you know, all I can really say is that, you know, I have a lot of fantastic memories with this team. And everybody there is like family, you know. So it definitely wasn't a decision taken lightly or, you know, didn't spend a lot of time thinking about it. but yeah, it's just time for change. We'll see what happens in due course. And how important was Stefan Johansson in guiding you through this? Yeah, you know, Stefan's always been, you know, I think at the forefront, you know, just a good friend. You know, we've achieved a lot together, you know, from his team in Indy Lights to, you know, the transition to PacWest and then obviously the transition to Ganassi. So, yeah, definitely a solid person to lean on and someone that's, you know, always been really good to me. And what was Chip's reaction when you came to this mutual agreement, I would say? Yeah, it's never easy. Like, we spoke about it several times. You know, I think everybody has, you know, maybe different views of how things should finish or where they'll finish and things like that. You know, Chip has always been a good friend, and, you know, I'd like to call him family. And ultimately, you know, I think through this whole kind of situation and through the chats and all that kind of stuff has been nothing but professional and, you know, a good friend. And even though you're not going to tell us who the new team is with, what are the prospects you see out there of what you might be able to achieve with them? Yeah, I think, you know, backing that up a little is kind of, you know, trying to figure out, you know, staying in IndyCar, doing something totally different. You know, there's a lot of great opportunities, I think, now in IndyCar and a lot of great teams. But you've got to say that, you know, Ganassi is definitely the best team. You know, so it's not always easy to leave in a scenario like that. But, yeah, there's a lot of great options out there. Yeah, long process, you know, probably for the last, you know, six months or more. Just trying to look at, you know, different things and where maybe a good fit or, you know, if I even need change, you know. So, as I said earlier, it was not a quick decision. It was something that took a long time and, you know, spoke to the team about several times as well. And, you know, we'll have to see where that goes in IndyCar. Yeah, I don't know. That's, you know, kind of a tricky question. I think, you know, it doesn't always just rely on, you know, kind of what one side thinks. I think we've had a pretty open dialogue on, you know, what's happening, you know, throughout the process and things like that. I guess on the unfortunate side, it was just, you know, time for change. You know, it was just looking at some different stuff, maybe a change of scenery and, you know, you know. Trust me, you know, their option was fantastic and, you know, with Chip, it's always been, you know, a sound situation and a fantastic team to be a part of. You know, like I said earlier, again, you know, this team feels like family, man. It's not an easy decision and not one that was taken lightly.

Bruce Martin:

Pitt Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental, also caught up with Dixon on Friday, July the 3rd, as he went into more detail about the emotional decision to inform Chip Ganassi Racing that he would not be returning with the team after this season.

Scott Dixon:

- Yeah, no, of course it was emotional. Long-term process, might have even cried, you know, like it's not easy, you know, I think, as I've stated before, you know, I've spent more time with, you know, Chip and his team than I have with my own family, you know, so it's, they are family, fantastic group of people and, yeah, not an easy decision by any means. Yeah, those situations are never easy. You know, I sat down with Jeff, I sat down with Mike, sat down with Bill Demchik from PNC, went and saw them in Pittsburgh and, you know, kind of went, you know, through the situation and, you know, told them I wasn't coming back. So not easy because, you know, honestly, all of these people have been amazing to me. It's it's it's definitely been tough. and they're great at what they do, you know? The PNC collab that we've had for, you know, as a primary sponsor for many years now has been amazing. You know, their community outreach, the Grow Up Great programs have been, you know, something that, for me, I really enjoy and, you know, it works really well. So, you know, there's a lot of, Yeah, a lot of tough decisions there.

Bruce Martin:

- Were you proud that people in the paddock and on your team were able to keep this under wraps until recently because you'd been talking about this for about four months according to some of your fellow drivers.

Scott Dixon:

Oh, yeah, I wasn't aware of that. Yeah, maybe they have some telepathy or some inner thoughts going on. Former teammates. Yeah, like honestly, you know, Chip was the, you know, the first to know, you know, obviously my wife and then, you know, Stefan, we worked through a lot of that stuff as well, but no, you know, it's, um, you have to be respectful to the people that made it possible. Yeah, it was a pretty close group that we kind of talked through most of the situations. And, you know, I know there's always a lot of chatter. I don't read any of it or I don't get into it or I don't follow any of that stuff. So, you know, until announcements are made, it's all just chatter. Yeah, I should know Monday.

Bruce Martin:

Dixon was then asked about his plans once his driving career comes to an end. He is 45 and celebrates his 46th birthday on July 22nd, but still has plenty of speed left in him.

Scott Dixon:

I love the sport. I love IndyCar. I think it's the best racing in the world. So yes, that would be an easy yes. How that situation plays out, I don't really know right now. But no, I love the sport. I love the people that are in it. I've had a long journey so far, and honestly, that would be the natural thing. I think looking at the long game is always going to be part of it. You know, my focus right now would be for the next two years of trying to win Indy and trying to win championships and races. You know, that's really the focus right now. But if you can also incorporate the talking of what's next, that's always something that's looked at. You know, sometimes change is just inevitable as well. Again, as I said, it's not an easy decision, but, you know, sometimes, you know, you just got to do something different. I think you always try to forecast a little bit. You know, that's always really hard to know, to be honest, you know, I think. I've been with the best team in the sport, man, so, you know, you see how they work, how they achieve their goals, you know, same with teammates, you know, look at Alex right now, Dario in the past, Weldon, you know, TK, there's a ton of them that I've been, you know, able to work with in those scenarios, so, forecasting is difficult, man, you know, I think you see that every day, especially in this sport, it changes from week to week, so, um, Yeah, you've got to look where there may be some opportunity, but, you know,

Scott Dixon:

I'm also with the team that creates most of that opportunity. I think like any new teammates, it kind of goes through a bit of a period. But no, I feel like Alex and I are good friends. You know, we're very good teammates. You know, I think wholeheartedly, Ganassi creates that opportunity. You know, they're very open book. They're very strict about engagement and how that, you know, works. And obviously, you know, how much you give and how much you get

Scott Dixon:

Kind of takes, you know, a little bit of time to work through, but no, no, definitely no grievances with Alex. You know, he's a phenomenal driver, someone I love working with and, you know, a good friend.

Bruce Martin:

Thanks, Scott.

Bruce Martin:

Felix Rosenquist has had an incredible two months that began with the birth of his daughter, Stella, on May 4th, continued with his dramatic victory in the Indianapolis 500 on May 24th, and now is returning to Errol McLaren after it was announced he had informed Meyers Schenck Racing that he would not be returning. Meyer Schenck issued that announcement on June 24th. I caught up with Rosenquist on July 2nd before his deal with Errol McLaren was officially announced for this exclusive Pit Pass Indie interview.

Felix Rosenquist:

finished strong with my shank racing obviously we have a lot to be to be to be proud of and um You know, still. half a season to go. The decision I've made is probably more of a long-term I'm probably not gonna go more into details before anything is official but yeah that's for

Bruce Martin:

That's where we're standing right now. Was it difficult to make that decision, especially after winning the Indy 500?

Felix Rosenquist:

It was. I mean, it's kind of an awkward timing where even, you know, winning the 500 or not, it's always... awkward when your contract expires in the middle of of a year like that. But it's, you know, I've been in that boat before where You have to start making some tough decisions and you still have a lot of races to go, it's just the way It's just the way things work in IndyCar. Normally, you know, the deals are made in May, June, July, and, um, Yeah, it's...in a way, unfortunate, but it's just the way it is and doesn't really change the my approach for the remainder of the season here. And how valuable has Stefani Johansson been to guide you through all this? Like always, he's, you know, we worked together since 2007. - 12, yeah. 24 years.

24, 12, 14. - 14 years. - Yes. - We worked together 14 years, feels like 24. And he's, you know, he's a guy I can trust and he's always done a really good job for me. So, yeah, it's... it's when you have tough decisions to make it makes it easier for sure. Was it tough to tell Mike Shank and Jim Meyer? For sure, yeah, it's always... I think no matter what team or what situation is always tough to to make that phone call. But, you know, It's at least I was the one doing it and not not someone else and not the media or whatever. So yeah, we're in good terms.

Felix Rosenquist:

already done a race weekend since. Many race weekends to go, and Mike's going to be here in a minute. So, yeah, I don't really think it's hurt any... you know, the way we go about day to day from here on. It's good that...

Bruce Martin:

I mean, in the end of the day, we're all adults and we can have a professional partnership here for the last couple of races. It all started for you here and you mentioned at Road America that this would be very important for you to win here.

Bruce Martin:

- How close do you feel you are to maybe getting the win here at Metohio?

Felix Rosenquist:

uh it's it's it used to be probably one of my stronger tracks i think lately it's actually been a bit of a weak track for me but it doesn't change the fact that i i really value a good result here it would it would make it extra special for sure uh as a as a home race with my shank racing and and my first podium ever here and my first IndyCar test and Scott's machine here in the number nine back in the day. So I think it would truly mean a lot, but So far it's, or lately it hasn't really been my best suited track.

Bruce Martin:

Pat O'Ward will have two new teammates beginning next season. He gave his thoughts on that in this Pitt Pass Indy interview on July the 3rd. I mean, Dixie, Dixie's the GOAT. And Fro, Fro's the reigning Indy 500 champion, you know. I'd be shocked if there wasn't any interest on him.

Pato O'Ward:

on both of them, I know they're both in contract years. I mean, honestly, I've always been pretty good at staying in my own lane. You know, these decisions, I'm just a racing driver at Aero McLaren, so I try and stay in my lane, and I try and focus on how to turn around my year. I think we've had good performances, but sadly, we just haven't had that breakthrough moment where we can start racking up the bigger points, you know, so that's what I'm mainly focused on. - That happened in text form. I mean, it'd be great to have some normal luck for once. I think we were on a great Road America flow to challenge for the win there. And sadly, we got caught out by that yellow. And we've had other instances where if it's not one thing, it's another. So just having a clean weekend, really. We don't need a yellow to go our way. If we need a yellow to not screw us, that'd be great.

Bruce Martin:

Has this been just an out-of-the-blue year for you? Because there was so much expected that you'd be able to do. And you've been fast and you started off a lot of top fives, but they just haven't been podiums and wins.

Pato O'Ward:

- I mean, for the people that really do pay attention, have truly seen like, what's been holding my results back. And I've actually been very happy with how I've performed. I've given everything that I have, and I-- I've had a way better qualifying year this year than I had last year and sadly in the races we've been taken out, we've had You know, more than 10 second pit stops we've had yellows that have completely screwed our race. Like, it's just, sometimes you can't control these things, but in terms of What I've put on the table and what I feel like I've brought is better than I have ever driven. Like I genuinely feel like I'm putting myself always in a position to fight if things do go at least just decent. And that's what I'm gonna continue to do. I've been doing this long enough to realize that sometimes you really can't control everything. at some point it doesn't last forever and and you know the luck also doesn't last forever so uh there are cycles that you have to go through and cycles that you have to accept and um like i said it'd be it'd be it'd be nice to have uh some lady luck for once and i think we'll be right where where people expect us to be but when everything is against you there's not much hope sometimes Yeah, just not being caught out by a yellow. That's been the name of our game the last few races and somehow still salvaged a decent result. And yeah, not that the pace hasn't been there. It has been, and especially when we've had chances to challenge for the win just everything else that really we we can't control much or I can't control. It goes the opposite, but it's okay, it's okay. I'm nowhere near done with this year and I've seen how quickly things can change. I somehow I'm still in fifth in the championship, shockingly. And I haven't had one single podium, so. Yeah, if you see me start getting some wins and some podiums, I'm going to be in the fight for that championship. Just watch.

Bruce Martin:

- As a driver from Mexico who has spent much of his life in the United States, how important is tomorrow to you, the 250th celebration of America?

Pato O'Ward:

It's a great country, America is a great country, it's obviously a place that I have shared home my whole life between here and my home country in Mexico and I know there's a lot of, you know, fellow Mexicans that also share the same situation as I do and I mean, I always look forward to the people going crazy on the 4th of July.

Bruce Martin:

We'll be right back to pit pass Indy after this short break.

David Maloukas:

This is David Maloukas, driver of the number 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, and you are listening to Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Bruce Martin:

Welcome back to Pit Pass Indie, presented by Penske Truck Rental. There is another side to the Errol McLaren story, and that involves Christian Lungard and Nolan Siegel. Despite his two wins and solid season in 2026, and the fact that he is one of IndyCar's most promising young drivers, Lungard was not retained by his current team. He does however have some promising possibilities for his next ride. Lungard, join me for this Pit Pass Indy interview on Friday, July the 3rd at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Christian Lungard:

- Yeah, I mean, in many ways, yes. I feel like that's the natural thing and way to think, but at the end of the day, we're still here to win. It's round 11. We have seven more races we can win, so focus on that.

Bruce Martin:

- So how do you handle it in the near term?

Christian Lungard:

keep winning races.

Bruce Martin:

Do you believe that your performance, the two years you've been with the team, that you've earned a second contract with them?

Christian Lungard: I think the result speaks for themselves.

Bruce Martin:

Michael Schenck is one of the owners of Meyers Schenck Racing, along with Jim Meyer and Elio Castroneves. Schenck's driver, Felix Rosenquist, gave the team its second Indianapolis 500 win on May 24th. Just one month later, Shank is looking for a replacement. I caught up with Shank on July 2nd for this exclusive Pit Pass Indie interview, which was one day before the team announced it had re-signed Marcus Armstrong to remain with the team. - Joining us now is Michael Schenk. Michael, you've had a heck of a year already. You won the Indianapolis 500. - We did. - Three weeks later, though, you find out the driver of the water for you is leaving and just How do you describe the range of emotions that you've been through during that time?

Michael Shank:

Both the top and the bottom. So, didn't ask for it, but that's life. That's the way it goes. I'm over it now. So, we're moving on. Not ideal, for sure, but also, it's life. Is it a situation where another team had offered him an amount of money you weren't going to be able to meet, or were there other factors in it? I don't know all the factors, but money was not a factor. But if you gave him a counteroffer, what was his contention why he passed? He can tell you that. I'm not going to tell you that. So where do you go from here in terms of putting together a driver lineup? I got a list. I mean, I got more people that have talked to me in my entire career about driving a race car. So it's everything from Formula One, Formula Two, to all the series here, to everything. So we will evaluate everything we have, everything that's come across our lens, and as a group, decide by, you know, in August, the beginning of August.

Bruce Martin:

Plus you get a Honda charter team that's going to begin in 2028 so in some ways You'll have three drivers. How much input do you have on the charter driver that Honda will have?

Michael Shank: I think my opinion is heard, but I won't have the ultimate choice. They will. And that obviously is used as a research and development type program. And you've done a lot of that in the past. How much does that intrigue you to be able to do that? Like 1,000% with the IMSA program and how it worked and the working relationship we have with David Salter is on down. So we look forward to it. It's a great opportunity. That's how I look at it. It's a great opportunity for us. And we'll start in 2027 organizing that.

Bruce Martin:

Are things set with Marcus Armstrong?

Michael Shank:

We're very, very close, but it's a priority to get him set.

Bruce Martin:

And because of your arrangement with Chip Ganassi Racing, If, say, they wanted him in the number nine car, that would have to be– you'd have sign-off on that one. Yeah, we work together. Let's put it that way. Let's put it that way. So going back to the Indianapolis 500, that had to be... High of highs. The highest of highs. Highest of highs. So when did you start to get the inkling that it was coming down a bit?

Michael Shank:

Probably two weeks later, three weeks later. But, you know, again, it was shocking a little bit. But, you know, listen, it's a sign of the times. People want to be with good people, and he's a great guy.

Bruce Martin:

It will never go away what we did together, and I'm, you know, immensely proud of that. There could be 13 different driver team changes on the grid next year. Now, granted, that would be everybody that's up to leave. And do you see it being that widespread? It's prettier widespread, but not over the top, I don't think. I don't think it's that far, but it's pretty deep. It's a driver that you've got an awful lot of respect for that never drove for you. but you competed against him, and with him being a Chip Ganassi racing driver, you worked with him to a degree, But Scott Dixon is not going to return to Chip Ganassi Racing. He's going to be at McLaren.

Michael Shank:

I don't want to say it's the end of an era, but, I mean, it was with the team for 25 years. Yeah. We're just getting to know. You know, Scott drives for me in IMSA, too, remember. So, we have one more race together at Petit Le Mans in October with Scott. Wow. Listen, I'm not privy to everything about it, but I know he's been there a long time and I respect everyone's decisions. We still live in America.

Bruce Martin:

What's it look like for next year?

Michael Shank:

Nothing right now. It doesn't look like anything. It's a big black hole right now. Are you determined that you're going to have an Imsitine? No. I'm determined to find the right deal and if we if we get a chance to get the right deal, then we'll do it. If not, then we won't.

Bruce Martin:

So you could take that effort and focus it on the HRC charter team. We could, we could. What was your favorite part of winning the Indy 500 other than winning the Indy 500? I think just doing it again so we couldn't be called a fluke anymore. to have the guy who won it for you the first time is a stakeholder getting to celebrate it for you Elio Castroneves

Michael Shank:

Oddly cool, very odd, but very cool.

Bruce Martin:

He's kind of like the A. J. Foyt of 1999 when Kenny Breck on the Indianapolis 500. A. J. got his fifth Indy win as a team owner. As a team owner. How valuable is it to have Elio as a guy that you can talk to and he can talk to the drivers, and at Indy he can get out there and do it himself? Yeah, he's immensely valuable. That's why he's there. Very valuable. And it's just not at Indy. It's everywhere. And he's very helpful in that regard. And he's also extremely helpful with all our partners too. Finally, with Michael Schenck, your team is much healthier than it was before the charter system and going back five years ago when you won the Indy 500 in 2021. The series seems to be much, much healthier.

Michael Shank:

Every year it seems like he gets healthier and healthier. Sure. Do you see that some of these big-name drivers switching teams is a sign of that health and growth, that there are opportunities across the lineup? Yeah, I guess you would have to. I hadn't thought of it that way, but, yes, I guess you would have to see that. Anytime the teams are healthy, when the paddock's healthy, everybody's healthy. and you're seeing that now with all this you listen it feels very dramatic but i love it i love all this drama with drivers i think it's great more people reading and caring about us the better how does your contract situations work in terms of who's the front guy is it you is it jim Jim and I, you know, Jim and I decide what we take input from, you know, other people too, like Adam Rozzini and Tim Beyer and we take in LAO, obviously is a big part of that, you know, So there's kind of four or five of us that sit on the table and look at it.

Bruce Martin:

to find the right guy is almost like putting a Rubik's Cube together.

Michael Shank:

You know, that is tough, but one thing I do want to see is someone that excels at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That's number one.

Bruce Martin:

- And finally, we're doing this interview at Mid-Ohio. This is where your career started at Mid-Ohio. I remember you telling me about your dad would turn you upside down when you were a kid so you could work on the pedals. - That's right. - 'Cause you were the only one small enough as a kid that could reach 'em. This race is now the traditional 4th of July weekend race on the IndyCar schedule. And that in itself has to be very important that not only is...

Michael Shank:

IndyCar healthy, Mid-Ohio's healthy, and we're starting to have other traditions being formed in IndyCar. How important is that from the Mid-Ohio perspective? Yeah, we need to keep this event, obviously, and the more support like we had here tonight at this event was overwhelming to me. We didn't expect this many people here in little Lexington, Ohio, so I love it. I love every minute of it. The series is going to, I mean, I was worried a year and a half ago, but we're in a much better space now.

Bruce Martin:

- Final question for Michael Shane. Marcus Armstrong. Should have won at Road America. Nobody expected a Honda engine to expire like it did so close to the finish. Was that the lowest moment that you've seen that kid have? Because I've told everybody when he wins, when he wins his first, he's going to kick the door in.

Michael Shank:

I think you're right. I think he was more beat up after Indianapolis, actually, because that really, really would have changed his life. And the kid's got a big future. You're going to hear about that more very shortly.

Bruce Martin: Well, Michael Shank, you've always been an upfront guy to talk to in the paddock. You have a good view of what's going on. Good luck at Mid-Ohio. Good luck to the rest of the IndyCar Series season. Good luck finding the drivers that are going to form your team next season. And thank you for joining us on Pit Pass Indy. Anytime, Bruce.

Bruce Martin:

Thank you very much.

Bruce Martin:

Marcus Armstrong didn't have to wait long to determine his future as the young driver from New Zealand re-signed with Meyers Shank Racing in a deal that was announced early Friday, July the 3rd. Here is a quick interview with Armstrong for Pit Pass Indie presented by Penske Truck Rental. So how does it feel to know that your future is secure?

Marcus Armstrong:

Oh, it feels great. I'm very, very pleased that we have everything all firmed up. It's good to announce it here at our home race as well, at Mike Shank's home race. So it's, you know, it's good vibes. Very pleased to also move into the 60. I'm very, very happy with the crew that I have. And in fact, we, for the majority of the people, we're keeping it as is. I feel like the guys that I'm working with are really great. And I couldn't wish for anything more, really. So, yeah, we're going to be moving into the 60, but ultimately keeping the same crew. I haven't given it much thought, really. But, you know, it doesn't change the ultimate goal, does it? I mean, like... We're here at Metohio this weekend in the 66 car. We're going to go and try and win a race in the 66 car. Whether I was in the 66 or the 60, it doesn't make a difference. We're still going to win the race, so that's the point. But like I said, I hate to be boring, but really I'm told what to do in that sense, and I'm very, very pleased for that opportunity, but I don't know the exact logic behind it. No, my contract was expiring at the end of this year, so it's obviously a mutual agreement, isn't it? So I'm very pleased to be here. There's certainly no doubt about it, and I think Mike and Jim feel the same. Armstrong was asked what he would like to see in a new teammate at Meyer Shank Racing to replace departing Felix Rosenquist. Of course, I'd like to have a teammate who has experience at the Speedway. Obviously, the whole month of May is a big component of our season and it's obviously important for us to have as much knowledge in the room as possible when it comes to developing the car and everything. So for me, I'm very... Obviously, Mike and Jim are going to do what's best for the team. There's no doubt about it. I support whatever decision they come to but it'd be nice to have a teammate that is able to contribute to the engineering and technical aspects during the month of May.

Bruce Martin:

Did you know before or after last night's event that you were signed?

Marcus Armstrong:

What do you think? Of course. Yeah, well, we obviously have a technical partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing, so I think it's a good thing, really. We have five very competent cars at the moment. We have a Honda car that's coming in the near future as well. I think ultimately it's a great group to be a part of, especially going into a new car. You want as much data as possible. You want as many good drivers in those cars as possible just to develop the material, and that's even more important when we go to, you know, 2028. So I think we're in a good spot. Armstrong is from Christchurch, New Zealand, and Scott Dixon is from Auckland, New Zealand, and a national racing hero. Armstrong was asked his thoughts on if he ever thought he would see the day that Dixon would leave Chip Ganassi Racing. Well, you know, like, Scott's a hero of mine. You know, I've even got a photo of him driving in my bedroom. How strange is that? 2000 and what is it? 2015 or 14 maybe. Target car. So I've got that plastered on my bedroom wall which is an interesting thing but you know that's something completely irrelevant. I'm very pleased with where I am. I think I'm in a great spot to win races and that's the most important thing.

Bruce Martin:

- I had Farrah Fawcett on my bedroom wall. I had Farrah Fawcett on my bedroom wall. - Who's that? - She was it in the '70s. Charlie's Angels. We'll be right back to Pit Pass Indie after this short break.

Joseph Newgarden:

Hey everyone, this is two-time Indy 500 winner Joseph Newgarden and you're listening to Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Bruce Martin:

There will be much more movement between drivers and teams for the remainder of this season, which could reach throughout most teams in the paddock. Santino Ferrucci of A. J. Foyt Racing drives the number 14 Chevrolet and admitted that he is not concerned because he has been in discussions with Larry Foyt to remain with the team next season. Here's a quick interview with Ferrucci before the race weekend began at Mid-Ohio.

Santino Ferrucci:

- No, I haven't talked to any other teams. Obviously working with Larry on re-signing for next year and beyond, so there's just still a lot of moving parts. You know, we're working with HFOT, Hendricks commercial properties, and Geronimo Hospitality as well, trying to figure out what's best for the team to move forward. and obviously continuing this partnership means a lot.

Santino Ferrucci:

Yeah, so... hopefully we have a good couple races and we can get everything sorted you can always say the grass is greener in other places right but I've been with this team from At its worst, I feel like we've gotten to the point to where we've been competitive every 500. We've almost won the 500. We've been in contention in so many races now. We are so close to that next step. So in racing, the analogy, it's easy to take off seconds, harder to knock off tents, and almost impossible to knock off thousands. We're at the point of, you know, we're knocking off those tents. We're trying to get into the thousands. And it's just small changes within the team that we're trying to make before we get to the new car to really help us progress and be that top, you know, be a top competing team. So, yeah, it's no, for me, I found a home here. I'm really happy. I think Larry's really happy. His sponsors are really happy. I want to see this thing through. I want to win races here. So that's my goal. -

Bruce Martin:

Thanks Santino.

Bruce Martin:

Graham Rahal has raced against Scott Dixon in IndyCar since 2008. Rahal was one of Dixon's teammates at Chip Ganassi Racing in 2011 and has a great deal of respect for what Dixon means to the IndyCar paddock, as he told me in this exclusive Pit Pass Indy interview. When you think back at what Scott Dixon has meant to Chip Ganassi Racing and IndyCar, today's a pretty monumentous day that the announcement's made that he's not going to be back at Chip Ganassi Racing. He was a teammate of yours at one time. What are you going to remember about that glorious 25-year term that he had?

Graham Rahal:

I, you know, I widely regard Scott as the greatest to ever do this. You know, even in the struggles the last couple of years, he's really only struggled necessarily against his teammate. You know, against everybody else, he's still been at the, you know, the pointy end of the spear. And Scott Dixon, to me, is the ultimate pro. He does everything right. He races well. He keeps it clean. He's just, you know, he's the man. And, you know, he and I had a discussion about four months ago about this. So I'm not necessarily surprised by the news. I kept it here as I should have, you know. But, you know, I think sometimes change is needed in life. And I think that's kind of where he's at. But, you know, I think wherever he ends up, obviously most people believe it's McLaren. He's going to have a great opportunity to continue on and have more success. And there's more wins ahead, I think, for Scott.

Bruce Martin:

Rahal was then asked about his former teammate and close friend, Christian Lungard, who is now available as a free agent despite his winning season at Arrow McLaren.

Graham Rahal:

I mean, yes, I have talked to Christian, but just more friend to friend. I don't. I don't, you know, these guys, it's, um, there's a lot of moving and shaking it's going on if I were a team principal I think Christian Lungard's the last guy I would get rid of. So, and I think that he's proven that this year. He's the only McLaren driver to be on a podium this year, if I'm correct. And he's won a couple. So, it's very hard for me to look and say that he's not the best driver that I'd have in that team at this point. So, for me, that's the way I view things. But, like I just said, I don't do the, you know. I mean, everybody's got to control their own thing. And, you know, if there's an opportunity for Christian, I know that dad would love to have him back. I just don't think that there's any room at the end for us. So, you know, I'm sure he'll land somewhere. Well, for me, I'm in a different situation, right? You know, ultimately why I came to this team was because of the sponsor opportunities with my dad and I together. And that's really been beneficial to us over the last 15 years or so, is to, you know, while others have struggled for sponsorship, we've been very fortunate that as a core we've been able to generate it. And so, you know, it means a lot. But I've got to be honest with you that what's going to mean more is us just getting this team back on the right track. And we've had a great year this year. Obviously, three podiums is the most. It should have potentially been four podiums. The most I would have had maybe in 10 years-ish, you know. And for me, you know, our goal is just to continue to get this team, you know, on the right foot. And if we do that, then the ultimate reward for me will be to see when I'm done here to see the team in a much better place than where we've been. I mean, arguably, over the last, you know, handful of years, last 10, 12 years, we've had quite a bit of podiums and success together, contrary to what most want to believe. But obviously, we need to get the team back to the winning ways, and we've got a lot of work to do to get there, a lot.

Bruce Martin:

The following day, I asked Rahal about his thoughts on the driver team possibilities in the IndyCar paddock. - You said yesterday there's no room at the end at Ray Hall Letterman Lanigan Racing, but is this a year with some of the drivers that might be available that you do kind of wish there might be an opening? - I would say it's a question for Jay and Bob.

Graham Rahal:

That's not my department. I know I've got one more year on my contract, and I intend to fulfill that, and then hopefully we'll see. After a year like we've had this year, it's given me life to believe that I should be here longer. I mean, I've been up front a lot this year, which has been nice. And so, you know, we'll see. But I don't know on the other two. I know Louie signed, and I would imagine that our intentions fully are to get Mick to come back. I think it's very, very hard for a driver to step in here for one year and be great. So, you know, Mick needs time, and I'd love to see him back. He's a great kid. You know, honestly, now it's very different with Jay. I just really trust in Jay to handle all the X's and O's. And even when it comes to hiring, you know, engineering staff and stuff, in the past I was way more vocal with the team about that. But, you know, with Jay, he's got a great relationship with a lot of people around here, and we're going to trust in him to try to make the improvements and do the things that we need to do. Well, I would say that we're in an unusual place. If I were– this is just talking off the cuff. If I was Mike Shank and you have Ganassi setups, I'd be hiring a young guy, and I'd be kind of looking a little longer down the road because you know you're going to have good cars. You don't need to develop a new car. If I'm RLL right now, I'm probably going, hey, if I'm Graham Rahal, I'm going to say I wish we had somebody that had a lot more experience because I need some help, you know, to get these cars. You know, like I said, I'm running development setups on race weekends. It's not really what we want to be doing, and so we need to get our cars better. You know, but obviously every team is going to have a different need, the backbone of every team. You know, I mean, look at what Penske did with Malukas, right? A pretty young guy. He's got a little bit of experience but not loads, but he doesn't need to have it. He can jump in there and haul ass. And so I think every team is going to have a different void. The thing is nowadays, you know, you have a lot of these teams that have alliances with another team. Foyt is, in essence, Penske. They run Penske shocks. They've got Penske setups. Ganassi and Shank, they're really a five-car team. They get also the added benefit of being able to do two different test sessions. So Shank can go test somewhere. Ganassi goes somewhere else. So, really, they've kind of, I would say, found the loophole in this whole thing. Same with Foyt and Penske. When we went testing a road in America, it was with Foyt, but the Penske engineers were there. I mean, that's the way that the rules are, and they've been able to get around that. And I've actually told Dad, I think, you know, we need to strategically start to think that way, too, if there's not going to be any changes in the way the rules are. But like I said, every team's going to have a different need and a driver. You know, to me, a lot of young, good guys coming up. So if I'm an MSR, I probably do look that way and give them, you know, one, two, three years to get it sorted, and they're going to win races because they're going to be in great cars, and that's just the way I view it.

Bruce Martin:

Our next guest can relate to what Scott Dixon is going through as a big-time IndyCar star who had been with a team for a very long time before joining a new team later in their career. It's Will Power who left Team Penske after last season. Power had been part of Team Penske since 2009 and is in his first season with Andretti Global. I asked Power about that move in this exclusive Pit Pass Indie interview. - Well, Will, it looks like you started a trend. Iconic drivers who've been with teams for a long time, leaving to join a new team. Now Scott Dixon is doing it. What's it like starting over at this stage of a driver's career such as you and Scott?

Will Power:

- Man, it's definitely an adjustment in the way you got used to doing things, things that were second nature to you, obviously a difference is a lot of extra brain power taken up by having to readjust basic stuff where steering wheel buttons, pedal ratio, you know, comfort, just the way they do things, it's just, yeah, I mean, you know, it's good. It is certainly an adjustment, but by half season you start to get really in the groove.

Bruce Martin:

- Scott had talked to some of the drivers in the paddock up to four or five months ago that he was thinking of doing this. Had he consulted you?

Will Power:

No, he did not consult me. He's, yeah, I mean, he probably has some close friends in the paddock. I think he, maybe for negotiating power, he probably tried to get some rumors out too. I think that always helps in negotiations. But, yeah, interesting for him. I think, again, it was like me, it was the right time if you're ever going to do it. You know, I think he'll bring good stuff to wherever he goes. And, you know, I think he'll enjoy his racing. I think it's been tough for him. You know, having a teammate like Palo, who just seems to suit this car so well. But, yeah, I'll watch with interest. I think it should be fun for him. Power was asked about the challenges of his 2026 season at Andretti Global, and if he ever wonders what if he had stayed at Team Penske to finish his career. Yeah, I think you really need to look at the details of those finishes because the potential has been great. Honestly, if I just sat back and just kind of didn't try to force the issue in some of those situations, you know, it would be sitting much better in the championship, potentially, definitely more podiums, but potentially a win or two. So it hasn't been from lack of performance. You know, it's just all those little teething things that have got to come together. But I'm really clicking well with the team, really clicking well with the engineer. And, you know, Ron's doing great on the strategy. So I think as a group, we're really starting to fire on all cylinders. Yeah, it's, you know, it would have been nice to finish my career there. It really would have at Penske because it's a great team, great people. Obviously, you had a lot of friends there. Last year was very tough, obviously it was in a contract year, plus our performance wasn't very good as a team that year, it was just a tough year for us, but it just felt the right time there, it just did, and I feel like I made the right decision, I'm having a lot of fun where I am, and enjoying sort of developing and changing, you can't tell how much we've changed within the team, just in this first four or five months of being there, six months, so yeah.

Bruce Martin:

Thanks, Will.

Will Power:

Thanks.

Bruce Martin:

We'll be right back to Pit Pass Indie after this short break.

Scott McLaughlin:

- Hi, I'm Scott McLaughlin, driver of the number three Team Penske Chevy, and you're listening to Pit Pass Indie, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Bruce Martin:

Welcome back to Pet Pass City, presented by Penske Truck Rental. And now, let's focus on what actually happened on the track as Pato Award scored his first win of the season in the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio on July 5th. He led a 1-2 Errol McLaren sweep when he passed pole winner and teammate Christian Lungard midway through the race and went on to his 10th career IndyCar Series win. The race ran start to finish without a caution period, and on a very hot and humid 4th of July weekend on Sunday, the drivers were worn out from 90 laps of hard racing around the 2. 258-mile, 13-turn Mid-Ohio sports car course. Award led the most laps in the July 5th race with 45, and Lundard was next with 41. Award tells me how he did it in this exclusive interview after the race for Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental. - For the second time in the last three years, Pat O'Ward has won here at Mid-Ohio. Paddle, it was a very tough race, a very hot race. And it took a really tough pass for you to beat your teammate Christian Lungard there toward the mid-portion of the race. How do you sum up this victory, your 10th career season? IndyCar Series wins.

Pato O'Ward:

Yeah, a very physical race. It was definitely the most physical that we've had all year, just with the heat and the humidity. But it was a continuation of a very smooth weekend. The car was behaving well, and I ran the perfect race that I knew I was very capable of doing, so I took home the W. And how satisfying is this victory? Because you not only had to overcome the heat, you had to overcome your teammate. There's been a lot of noise lately about what the team may look like next year. Of course, you're back. Fourth of July weekend, there was just a lot going on this weekend, so how satisfying was it to get this victory? Oh, it's great. I've earned all of my wins, and they definitely feel good. So regardless of who's in front of me, the approach is the same.

Bruce Martin:

And as far as to be able to be the first driver other than Johnny Rutherford to get double-digit victories, it was your 10th career IndyCar Series win. Those are big numbers, and he's a legendary name.

Pato O'Ward:

Yeah, yeah. I mean, obviously, Johnny can can his his name speaks for his great career and what he's, you know, the part that he's played with McLaren. And, you know, I'm just I'm here making my own journey with with with being a Papaya member. Why are you so good here at Mid-Ohio? It's a combination of a great race car, a great team behind me. Um, and we, we went out there and we executed on, you know, exactly how I've been telling everybody that we can, doesn't matter if we're in mid Ohio, doesn't matter if we're in Nashville or in 8,500. I know we can do it every single weekend and that's what we strive for.

Bruce Martin:

seven races left you're 94 points behind this thing isn't over yet so what do you got to do to win the championship yeah not quite not quite done yet and um it'd be great to rack up some more wins. That'll get us there very fast. - And finally, to still be the heart and soul of this team, and it really looks like Tony Kanaan, his stamp of influence is all over this operation now. It's gonna be a different looking team, 2027 how excited are you over all of the changes that are coming here at arrow mclaren and

Pato O'Ward:

The influence that Tony Kanaan has had since taking over his team principal. Passion is what's driving this team forward, and I consider myself a very passionate individual that obviously is a great part of this racing organization, and we're going to keep on working hard to keep having weekends like this. When you're racing like that with a teammate, is that a thing where you can trust people?

Bruce Martin:

your teammate a little bit better than if it had been, somebody from another team.

Pato O'Ward:

I think it depends who you're racing. You know, you can really tell who you can race side by side with or who's going to tell you. um um you know no thanks so um obviously christian is is one of the best in the series uh like a um you know like a obviously polo is not an hour mclaren driver but i think if i was in that situation with him he would also respect me like that um and i think you can say that about a lot of other guys like malukas and that stuff so i don't think it really makes a difference but uh obviously as for the as for the the teams you know instance we we obviously don't want to take both cars out so um we knew that we were going to race hard and and it was either his or mine um so uh i i i just i ran a cleaner race

Bruce Martin:

I hate using cliches, so I won't, but how important was it for you to get that? He hasn't won a race this year or finished on the podium out of the way.

Pato O'Ward:

Um, honestly, I wasn't really worried. I mean, I've been in this business for a long time. I mean, I know, uh, there's plenty of other guys that have had many more years than I have, but I've, I've got plenty under my belt to, to understand how things flow and the bad luck doesn't last forever, but the good luck also doesn't, you know, and today it was a, it was a simple, uh, a simple showing of execution in, in, in even coming off of road America. Um, uh, I had so much pace. I've had so much pace in the last two, two road courses, sadly brought America. We weren't even able to fight because we got, uh, hosed by that yellow, but, but this weekend it was, uh, all green race physical. Oh my God. Really physical, really hot in there. Um, but that's, that's why we trained so hard in the off season. That's, that's what's most important. And, um, yeah, honestly, as it for me, I knew my win was coming, um, whether it was going to be in the last couple races or in the middle, I, I don't know, you know, but obviously I made it happen today and, um, it's just, it's nice to, to kind of, um, kind of put, put, put, put, put ourselves in, in a position to keep on climbing and keep on building on, on this, on this great momentum that we've had. Um, because I do, I do feel like some, some good results have, have ran away from us just from little details. But today, uh, I really want to thank my guys for giving me an amazing race car and, um, in the pits. I mean that, like I said, that is so important.

Bruce Martin:

And finally, big weekend here in the United States, 4th of July weekend, 250th birthday, Mexico's going to play in the World Cup tonight. You win an IndyCar Series race. This has got to be a weekend that you're long going to remember. Aw, man, hopefully it's a Mexico sweep. I'll be watching the game on my way home tonight. Well, Pat O'Award, Errol McLaren, congratulations on your 10th IndyCar Series win, your first of the season. Good luck the rest of the way, and thank you for joining us on Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Realm. Thank you very much. Tony Kanaan is Errol McLaren team principal. Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental, had this exclusive interview with Kanaan after the race discussing awards big win and the changes that Errol McLaren would officially announce the following day. - Joining us now is team principal of Errol McLaren, Tony Kanaan. TONY, BIG VICTORY HERE FOR YOUR DRIVER PADO AWARD AT THE HONDA INDY 200 AT THE MED OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE.

Tony Kanaan:

You've driven this race course. You were a champion driver in IndyCar. You know what a tough day this was. How proud are you of the job that he did because there wasn't a caution period on a very hot day in a 90-lap race? I mean, of course, a very physical day, right, and especially such a tight race with no yellows and how competitive the cars were that, you know, you're preaching to the guy that worked out his entire life to be the strongest guy on the field for days like this, and I think Pato has the same mentality. Our drivers actually are pretty on point on the physical part, so, and that's what's, you know, what makes a difference. At the end of the day, you know, if you fell off the seat, that's where you lose a race, so I'm proud of him. It was a hot day, 90 laps, no cautions. You know what it's like to be in a race car when that happens. So how much of a man's victory was this for Pato? No, a big one. If you look at every driver after the race was sitting on the side pod, it must have been brutal. I've been in days like this, and they're not fun. And I think that's a statement for how much dedication he's putting it on and how bad he wanted it to win. And the preparation starts at the race shop and at the gym, and he did that. I remember when you retired as a driver, you were serving as a sweet host for NTT. You were entertaining the guests at IndyCar Series races. It was like one of your first jobs after being a full-time driver.

Bruce Martin:

Now you're the team principal

Tony Kanaan:

of a team that McLaren owns and you're putting Tony Kanaan's stamp over the future of this team. Are you a little stunned at how quickly you've rose to this type of position? I mean, I think I'm lucky to, you know, have people that believe in my capabilities. Lucky that Zach took a took a gamble on me and then I think You know, Bruce, you know me well, and my fans that are listening, you know, I would never accept to do something if I was not going to give my entire life into it. So, that was like that when I was racing. So, Stun, no, I wouldn't say, you know, I'm not the type of person that gives me myself props. I actually criticize myself a lot more than that, but I'm proud. I think I'm a very lucky guy to be able to have a career, the hell of a career that I did, and then still be able to be involved in racing and still enjoy and have the adrenaline of winning races even outside of the

Bruce Martin:

car. You had fun as a driver, so how much fun is it in your current role of running a McLaren race team?

Tony Kanaan:

I'm not going to name names, but she's sitting right beside me. She said, you know, you're doing a better job as a team principal as you were as a driver. And that is my VP of communications, Law and Guardian. So my boss of don't let me talk or let me to talk or tell me what to talk. So I guess, you know, that's a, I'll take that as a compliment, but I'm enjoying a lot. Tony Canaan, I remember you as a rookie, and you remember me when I had dark hair. It's great to see how far our careers have come. Yours further than mine. We must have done something right because we're still here.

Bruce Martin:

Well, congratulations on the big win in the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio with your driver paddle award. And, hey, you still got a championship you can win this. Yes, sir. For sure. Thank you. Thank you for joining us on Pit Pass Indy. Thank you. And that puts a checkered flag on this edition of Pit Pass Indie presented by Penske Truck Rental. We want to thank our guests, including six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon, winner of the 110th Indianapolis 500, Felix Rosenquist, driver Christian Lungard, Meyers Schenck Racing team owner, Michael Schenck, drivers Marcus Armstrong, Santino Ferrucci, and Graham Rahal. Also, Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio winner, Padua Ward, and Aero McLaren team principal, Tony Canaan, for joining us on this edition of Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental. Along with loyal listeners like you, our guest helped make Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental, your path to victory lane in IndyCar. On the highways, the raceways, and every pit stop in between, Penske Truck Rental keeps you moving forward. Gain ground with Penske. For more IndyCar coverage, follow me at X, previously known as Twitter, at BruceMartin, one word, uppercase B, uppercase M, underscore 500. This has been a production of Evergreen Podcast. A special thanks to our production team. Executive producers are Bridget Coyne and Gerardo Orlando. Recordings and edits were done by me, Bruce Martin, and final mixing was done by Sean Rule Hoffman and Nathan Corson.