– The drivers of the IndyCar series now have almost exactly six months to prepare for the season opener for the 2027 season. While the engines rest, a lot of groundwork is being laid behind the scenes. For Mick Schumacher, before moving to Meyer Shank Racing, it is first about a completely different matter: Finally having time to take care of his hand injury.
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“I definitely have to get my injuries from this year under control for the next season,” says the German in an interview on Jeffrey Hrunka’s X channel.
“After that, it will be about continuing to work on my development – also on the mental side – taking the fine-tuning and the close work ethic we have here with me. After all, we want to start the season on the right foot directly with the new team.”
Schumacher injured his left wrist in the very first race in St. Petersburg when he was involved in a collision caused by Sting Ray Robb. It was only at the end of April that he revealed the handicap that lasted throughout the season. It is a typical IndyCar injury when the steering wheel is yanked around by the hand, the so-called kickback.
He does not want to set a concrete goal for his second IndyCar season: “The goal is to continue development and expand the experience base. That should work quite well with the Meyer-Shank group, just as with the CGR group.”
By that, he means Chip Ganassi Racing, the team that has dominated the IndyCar series in the 2020s so far with Alex Palou. Through a technical cooperation between Ganassi and MSR, he will have access to Alex Palou’s data and will certainly learn a lot.
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“This is a really close collaboration. I look forward to learning from them and seeing how they work. Ultimately, the goal has to be to perform next year.”
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“I didn’t even look elsewhere”
He lets slip that he has been in talks with Meyer Shank Racing for some time: “Mike and my [management] team had already had informal talks quite early. When things then developed the way they did, it just seemed right to work on the deal with Mike [Shank], Jim [Meyer], and [team manager] Tim [Keene].”
“There was also no real reason to look elsewhere because we were quite satisfied with the talks we had,” he continues. “In the end, we found a common path, and that is simply great.”
Schumacher impressed as a complete oval rookie with remarkable performances in the “Noodle Bowl,” which no one had expected before the season. While he struggled more on road and street courses, many Americans describe him as a natural talent when it comes to ovals.
He also brings Enve Composites as a sponsor to Meyer Shank Racing. The team relies on a dowry because an expensive investment is due next year. In 2028, a new generation of cars will enter the IndyCar series, replacing the current chassis from 2012. There will also be new engines, and that costs money – a lot of money.
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Before that, it will be important to let the injury heal. He has several fellow sufferers. Alexander Rossi also injured his left hand before the Indy 500, Josef Newgarden injured his foot during the big race, and Caio Collet injured his ribs. All drivers now have time to have these injuries treated professionally.
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