Meyer Shank Racing hopes to run 10 races in 2019

Mike Shank

Meyer Shank Racing is planning to undertake a 10-race IndyCar program in 2019 as a continuation of its partnership with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, ahead of an intended future full-time expansion.

The sportscar outfit signed a deal to run Jack Harvey for six races in 2018, having previously run the Briton in last year's Indianapolis 500.

Team boss Michael Shank told Autosport he was aiming for 10 races next year alongside SPM.

"We're under contract with our sponsors for six and we're aiming to get to 10," he said.

"The reason we're alive is that we have a smart financial position. We could go out and run more races, put it on a credit card and pay it later but that won't keep my guys employed.

"If for some reason all the ducks lined up and we could do more, we'd try to do more.

"I think 10's a good target and with tracks like Laguna Seca and potentially COTA in Austin [if Texas Motor Speedway exited the series], they're interesting markets for our sponsors.

"We'll try to buy a second car for the [Indy] 500 and put that away, we'd like to be stronger there.

"We're still learning our package and doing this in very purposeful, thought out steps.