LEXINGTON, OH – Felix Rosenqvist’s life continues to vary in 2026.
First, Rosenqvist and his spouse, Emille, welcomed their daughter (and first little one), Stella, in early Could. Twenty days after that, Rosenqvist had the most important second of his IndyCar profession, successful the Indianapolis 500 after passing two vehicles in an exhilarating last-lap restart. Thirty-one days after that, it was confirmed that Rosenqvist will race for a brand new workforce in 2027, leaving Meyer Shank Racing after three years.
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Whereas talking publicly for the primary time for the reason that announcement at The Native At 97 previous to the weekend’s race at Mid-Ohio, the Swedish driver referred to as shifting on from MSR “extra of a long-term resolution.”
“It is sort of a clumsy timing the place, successful the five hundred or not, it is all the time awkward when your contract expires in the midst of a 12 months like that,” Rosenqvist mentioned. “I have been in that boat earlier than the place it’s a must to begin making some robust selections and you continue to have a number of races to go. It is simply the best way issues work in IndyCar, usually. The offers are made in Could, June, July, and it is, in a approach, unlucky, however it’s simply the best way it’s.”
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IndyStar’s finest photographs from the a hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500
Fireworks are set off because the gates open Sunday, Could 24, 2026, forward of the a hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar)
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IndyStar’s finest photographs from the a hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500
Fireworks are set off because the gates open Sunday, Could 24, 2026, forward of the a hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar)
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IndyStar’s finest photographs from the a hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500
A gaggle of buddies from Indianapolis drink beer Sunday, Could 24, 2026, throughout the a hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar)
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IndyStar’s finest photographs from the a hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500
Morgan Berry and Taylor Klose put glitter on their faces earlier than heading into the Snake Pit on Sunday, Could 24, 2026, throughout the a hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar)
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IndyStar’s finest photographs from the a hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500
Brett Warner from Indianapolis smiles for a photograph Sunday, Could 24, 2026, forward of the a hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
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Indy 500 followers marry within the stands earlier than the race
Kara O’Neil and Dr. Bert O’Neil of Fishers get married within the grandstands Sunday, Could 24, 2026, forward of the a hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Smith/IndyStar)
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IndyStar’s finest photographs from the a hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500
Carson B., 5, and Ellie B., 3, obtain their lunches Sunday, Could 24, 2026, forward of the a hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Smith/IndyStar)
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IndyStar’s finest photographs from the a hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500
TJ Kron sits Sunday, Could 24, 2026, forward of the a hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500 exterior of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Smith/IndyStar)
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IndyStar’s finest photographs from the a hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500
Racing followers drink Sunday, Could 24, 2026, within the in discipline forward of the a hundred and tenth operating of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Rosenqvist revealed that he knowledgeable MSR of his resolution to depart earlier than the Grand Prix at Street America, the place he led essentially the most laps within the race and completed eighth. Rosenqvist is at the moment sixth within the IndyCar standings, the identical place he completed in 2025. With eight races to go, Rosenqvist feels his resolution hasn’t affected “the best way we go concerning the day-to-day from right here on.”
“In the long run of the day, we’re all adults,” he mentioned, “and we will have knowledgeable partnership right here for the final couple of races.”
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Rosenqvist would not touch upon whether or not a deal or settlement with one other workforce is in place. There may be hypothesis that he may rejoin Arrow McLaren, which he raced for from 2021 to 2023 and by no means completed greater than eighth within the championship.
Rosenqvist and MSR co-owner Mike Shank have acknowledged that the trajectory of their partnership shifted after the Indy 500. As with all driver who wins the Biggest Spectacle in Racing, Rosenqvist’s providers — each from a driving standpoint and general sponsorship potential — multiplied in worth. The aftermath of successful what many imagine to be the nice 500 ever has led the 34-year-old to discover new choices subsequent 12 months, regardless of being supplied an extension by MSR.
“I feel the preliminary concept was to remain, however we did not actually have any talks till after the five hundred, the place there was curiosity from different groups throughout that point,” Rosenqvist mentioned.
“I do suppose that him successful and the best way he gained most likely awakened some individuals that did not take into consideration him rather a lot,” Shank advised IndyStar final week. “Everybody sort of is aware of he is robust on the 500, proper? So I feel the best way he gained, which was fairly dramatic and actually cool … I feel that woke some individuals up, and I assume he had a choice to make after that.”
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Rosenqvist’s resolution was to depart from MSR, and he’ll be one in all IndyCar’s most extremely sought-after free brokers, together with six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon, who Rosenqvist was teammates with at Chip Ganassi Racing in 2019 and 2020. Each drivers have been linked to Arrow McLaren, though neither has introduced a choice.
Ought to each drivers head to Arrow McLaren, the Indy 500 champions would workforce up with eight-time race winner Pato O’Ward, who was the most effective man in Rosenqvist’s wedding ceremony. Arrow McLaren would be capable to boast three of the most important names within the sport, though a lot is to be determined.
For now, it is recognized that Rosenqvist would be the first Indy 500 winner in 9 years to hitch a brand new workforce within the following season. (Takuma Sato left Andretti International for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing after 2017.) MSR now has an enormous gap to fill, and Rosenqvist has a significant profession option to make.
