An Engine For Shank

[AFColt]

OK, Twitter users, on the precept that it's better to light a candle than curse the darkness, I'm working on an #engineforshank Twitter hashtag movement right now.

If you're on Twitter, let Honda (@HondaRacing_HPD) and Chevy (@Team Chevy) know you want to see Michael Shank Racing and Jay Howard with one of their engines! Make sure to use the #engineforshank hashtag!

Here's a sample tweet:

Let's get @MichaelShankRac & @JayHoward66 an engine for Indy! Let @HondaRacing_HPD & @TeamChevy hear you! Tag #engineforshank

If you aren't on Twitter and want to help, here are links to Chevy and Honda's contact pages.

Thanks in advance!

[debdrake]

done

[BuddyCarSeries]

@buddycarseries has done it

[AFColt]

Awesome! Thanks, guys!

[RyanRacing]

Done, not a huge fan of Jay Howard but I don't like how all of these teams are being held hostage by the engine manufacturers.

Maybe if this works we can apply it to other indycar related things such as: Walgreens sfh racing 2.0 or to race tracks we would like Indy car to go to.

[AFColt]

Done, not a huge fan of Jay Howard but I don't like how all of these teams are being held hostage by the engine manufacturers.

Maybe if this works we can apply it to other indycar related things such as: Walgreens sfh racing 2.0 or to race tracks we would like Indy car to go to.

Well, it can't hurt. Hopefully this shows them fans are paying attention. And it feels better than doing nothing.

[pitwall3]

Very interesting read. IMHO Shank got shafted.

http://www.racer.com/opinion-the-sor...rticle/238912/

[BizzyV]

He should be running a full season with PT. Sucks, sucks, sucks. Although if they had a Lotus, they'd be screwed anyways.

[Racing Steward]

By the sounds of it, Shank COULD get a Lotus engine but he apparently doesnt want it. Which is totally understandable but if thats the only option, thats the only option. And IndyCar didnt respond to his request to guarantee him an engine because they CANT. Thats between the teams & the manufacturers, Indycar is not involved in those contracts. And I dont think its neccessarily fair to blame Honda or Chevy because they have both exceeded their commitments, Lotus cannot even atleast meet theirs. Now the article brought up a good point, with 2 cars out at Lotus, that frees up two engines, so its only logical that one can be made available to Shank and I dont know if thats the case or not.

As for blame: IF Lotus doesnt have the engine to provide = Lotus's fault. IF Lotus has the engine for Shank = Shank's fault. I understand Shank not wanting a Lotus but at this point thats your only option, take it or leave it. Things dont always line up the way you want them. Thats life. In no way is this IndyCars fault or Hondas or Chevys IMHO.

But if Shank turns down a Lotus engine and the field is 32 cars, ok but dont start pointing fingers at indycar. You had your chance and you passed it up. Your problem.
If Lotus doesnt give one of the two free engines or offer it to Shank, Lotus's fault for not having 33.

Bottom line it will either be Lotus's fault or Shanks fault we dont have 33, we'll see what happens. JMO.

[Glenn]

I'm not impressed with Shank so far. Sure he went out and got a rolling chassis, but he did not have the money lined up to run a complete season. Then he made a big deal of not getting the Team Money. In my opinion he was being naive thinking he was going to get the Team Money and I was not impressed that he basically tried to hold Indycar hostage by claiming he couldn't run the season without their money. I really don't think the Team Money would have gotten them enough to run the complete season. Now he's telling anyone that will listen (Speed TV) that he can't get an engine and that he doesn't want a Lotus and that Indycar hasn't gotten back to him. The whole thing is just very unprofessional.

[Racing Steward]

I'm not impressed with Shank so far. Sure he went out and got a rolling chassis, but he did not have the money lined up to run a complete season. Then he made a big deal of not getting the Team Money. In my opinion he was being naive thinking he was going to get the Team Money and I was not impressed that he basically tried to hold Indycar hostage by claiming he couldn't run the season without their money. I really don't think the Team Money would have gotten them enough to run the complete season. Now he's telling anyone that will listen (Speed TV) that he can't get an engine and that he doesn't want a Lotus and that Indycar hasn't gotten back to him. The whole thing is just very unprofessional.

Shank refusing to take a Lotus reminds of the time when I was young and my dad bought my little brother a red power ranger and he cried because he wanted the white ranger.

[doitagain]

Candle and darkness merged.

[pitwall3]

IMHO these last minute deals for engine leases with Fisher and Dragon Racing did not make Indy Car look good.

Quote:
This offseason has seen several last-minute deals come together, or potentially out of nowhere. Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing was fortunate to accrue a Honda lease to run its talented rookie Josef Newgarden, although it was late, and the Dragon Racing two-car Lotus effort caught everyone off guard when it was announced.

Shank's intentions to enter IndyCar were made official in October, a full two months before either of the SFHR or Dragon deals, and despite making investments, saying largely the right things, and remaining consistent in saying, “I want to be there!” he still isn't, yet. It's been more than six months and he's still basically a Fred Flintstone body-double in trying to pedal his chassis around the track.

The sad saga that has been Shank's attempt to get on the grid is a cautionary tale for prospective team owners who want to make it to IndyCar. You may have enthusiasm, passion, dedication and investment, but if you don't have an engine lease, you don't have a spot. To be honest, it's ridiculous – and far from welcoming. Besides the Lotus comments, Shank also told the AP Monday he had asked IndyCar to guarantee the team an engine, regardless of which one, and “they never Responded"

[THE BEAR]

It is hard to comment from 50,000 feet on whether Shank's effort is sincere or not. It wouldn't be the first time that a make-believe has tried to show up at Indy and fallen into the cracks before ever fielding a viable entry.

But let's assume that the effort is sincere. Newman Hass folded with a Lotus engine in hand long before this. They cited, in part, the lack of time necessary to prepare a competitive entry. Now we are some weeks later, and Shank still doesn't have a competitive entry. And if we assume he has been offered a Lotus, would You plop down $5 million for the month to prepare, practice, qualify and race if you knew going in that you might run only a few laps before the thing blows to bits, or lags the field so badly that by ten laps in you were watching the leaders.....as they lapped you?

It's hard to say, but as we have seen in the past, these last minute deals which capture so much emotion rarely perform well when they start putting laps down at the Speedway. It takes a whole lot more than just the pieces to run competitive laps at Indy. Maybe Shank knows this.