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Shank Still Working On INDYCAR Program

Shank Still Working On INDYCAR Program

Anne Proffit

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Anne Proffit has worked in the automotive field since - well, not telling you that. She's been a car salesperson (before it was popular to hire... More

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1,765 views Feb 16, 2012

Michael Shank at Daytona - Anne Proffit photo

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Although they were first to announce a Lotus affiliation for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season, Michael Shank Racing Indy has been dormant since that ill-fated Las Vegas weekend.

The team put together by former driver Shank, Penske Racing NASCAR shoe A.J. Allmendinger, and Ohio-based businessman Brian Bailey, has been working to get backing for its DW12 chassis and has been hoping to gain the sixth Lotus engine--and a viable driver to campaign the package.

It hasn't been easy going, even with the team's results at the 50th anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona of first and third, accenting a Ford/Riley-powered sweep of the podium.

"We've got the car in the shop and the people we need to go run the car," Shank said. "But at this point we are still working to have he full budget in place to go racing. I don't want to be in a position to just go out and make up the numbers - we want to show up and have a competitive presence."

During that magical Daytona 24-hour weekend, both Shank and driver Paul Tracy believed they had a viable shot at a partnership. At the 11th hour, the partnership dollars went away and that left both parties working hard to remedy the situation. Tracy has often stated his desire to work with Shank this year and make 2012 his final campaign in the Indy cars, looking towards more sports car endurance racing following the coming Indy car season.

After both Shank and Bailey participated in the 2012 State of INDYCAR meetings in Indianapolis this week, they came away with a deeper insight into the challenges and opportunities at their doorstep.

"It's interesting being the new guys here and seeing how the team owners work with each other," Shank observed. "We all have common interest right now in having this new car work for everyone and continuing to grow the sport," despite the inherently competitive nature of the sport.

Shank knows the pressure is on to get his financing in place, prepare his car and secure a proper driver for the season-opening Honda Grand Prix the final weekend of March in St Petersburg, FL. Yet the self-made team owner has long been known as a fighter and is miles away from giving up.