Shank continues sponsor search

Michael Shank, whose Michael Shank Racing Grand-Am team opened the year with a bang by winning the 50th anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona, said an expected partnership program for IZOD IndyCar Series team he announced in October did not develop, which could leave the upstart team off the grid for the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 25.

“We’ve got the car in the shop and the people we need to go run the car, but at this point we are still working to have the full budget in place to go racing," said Shank, who has teamed with NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger and Columbus (Ohio)-area businessman Brian Bailey to form MSR Indy. “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.

“My main goal is to make this thing work, and if that means working with a technical partner to make it happen or just focusing on particular races then so be it. Obviously, there are folks out there testing right now and that is the best-case scenario to be in. We’ve got a little bit bigger hill to climb at the moment, but we are not giving up by any stretch."

Shank and Bailey participated in the State of INDYCAR meetings in Indianapolis earlier this week.

“Randy (Bernard, INDYCAR CEO) is making a lot of moves and I think there is some very serious opportunity for the series to continue to grow this year."