MSR Penalized for Manipulating Tire Pressure Data at Rolex 24

Photo: Rick Dole/IMSA

Meyer Shank Racing has received significant penalties and sanctions by IMSA after the team was discovered to have manipulated tire pressure data in January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The Tom Blomqvist, Colin Braun, Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud-driven Acura won the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season opener but was later found to have made “intentional software offsets” within the tire pressures being reported by the tire pressure monitor system.

All cars are required to fall within Michelin’s prescribed minimum tire pressure mandates, which is monitored by the sanctioning body during the event.

As outlined in Attachment 3.6.6.E of the WeatherTech Championship sporting regulations, failure to adhere to the operational requirements is prohibited and subject to a range of penalties, although any violation may be penalized to the full extent listed in Article 57.

The discovery, made by Honda Performance Development, came after IMSA posted the official race results for the Florida endurance classic.

Both the team and drivers have lost 200 of its 350 WeatherTech Championship points earned in the race, all team and driver points from the Michelin Endurance Cup, loss of race prize money as well as a $50,000 fine.

Additionally, Mike Shank has been placed on probation through June 30 and engineer Ryan McCarthy has been stripped of his IMSA credential and placed on indefinite suspension.

Per IMSA, no changes will be made to the official race results, with the No. 60 team retaining the victory, race trophy and race-winning watches.

All other teams and drivers will retain the points and prizes commensurate with their finishing positions as shown on the official race results, while there will be no change to GTP manufacturer points.

A Meyer Shank Racing team representative told Sportscar365 that it will issue a statement on the matter shortly.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John