10 IndyCar drivers shift to IMSA as prep for 2026 Daytona 24 Hours begins

The 2025 IndyCar season is beyond the American open wheel racing series drivers, who are now looking ahead to the 2026 season. However, there are still a couple of months before the preparation for the season is at its peak. With time in their hands, multiple drivers aim to race in the Daytona 24 Hours, and as a result, they recently tested at the Daytona International Speedway.

The 24 Hours of Daytona, known as the Rolex 24 at Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is the first race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, with the race taking place in January. Multiple drivers from IndyCar participated in the 2025 race, and 10 of them are looking to race in the 2026 event.

As the three-day test ahead of the 24 Hours of Daytona in January is underway, let's have a look at 10 IndyCar drivers participating in it. The test takes place at the iconic circuit from November 14-16.

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#1 Josef Newgarden

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Test - Source: Getty

Team Penske star Josef Newgarden tested the Porsche 963 with Porsche Penske Motorsport on the first day of the test. The American tested the No.6 and No.7 GTP entries for the team. The two-time Indy 500 winner has previously raced with the team in the GTP category and was part of the winning driver lineup in 2024.

#2 Scott McLaughlin

Scott McLaughlin also tested alongside his Team Penske teammate Newgarden in the GTP class, driving the Porsche 963. Unlike Newgarden, McLaughlin had not driven the GTP class cars previously. During his previous run at Daytona 24, the Kiwi driver raced in the LMP2 class a couple of times, whereas he raced in the GTD Pro class this year, driving the Corvette for Trackhouse.

#3 Alex Palou

Alex Palou drove for Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian during the 2025 Daytona 24 Hours and tested for the same team during the three-day test in the Acura ARX-06. The Spaniard finished 40 laps down on the race winner in 2025 following a mechanical issue with the car.

#4 Scott Dixon

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Test - Source: Getty

Scott Dixon is not only the most experienced IndyCar driver, but he also has over two decades of experience racing at the Daytona International Speedway. The Kiwi driver has been racing in the 24 Hours of Daytona since 2004 without fail. In 2025, he finished P2 racing for Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian and tested with the same team this year.

#5 Will Power

Will Power was set to make his IMSA debut in 2023 when he withdrew. However, he did make his debut this year at the Indianapolis 8 Hour with 75 Express in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the GTD Pro class and tested with the same team at the Daytona test

#6 Louis Foster

The 2025 IndyCar rookie of the year tested with Tower Motorsports in the ORECA LMP2 car with John Farano, Sebastien Bourdais, and Sebastian Alvarez as his teammates in the No.8 car.

#7 Callum Ilott

Callum Illot raced in the FIA World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans in the past and made his IMSA debut in 2025, driving in the LMP2 class for Pratt Miller Motorsports. However, for the Daytona test, he drove for No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R in the GTD class.

#8 Nolan Siegel

F1 Grand Prix of United States - Source: Getty

Nolan Siegel has participated in the IMSA as a part-time driver since 2022 in different categories, including LMP3 and LMP2. He last raced at Daytona 24 in 2024 with Sean Creech Motorsport in the LMP2. For the November test, he tested the No. 43 Inter Europol ORECA LMP2.

#9 Kyle Kirkwood

The Andretti Global driver has been racing in IMSA since 2020 as a part-time driver in the GTD and GTD Pro categories. For the last five years, he raced with Vasser Sullivan racing in the Lexus RC F GT3 and tested with the same team at Daytona.

#10 Colton Herta (Former IndyCar driver)

Colton Herta left Andretti Global after the 2025 season and will be racing full-time in F2 next year. He also joined Cadillac F1 as the reserve driver for the upcoming season. At the IMSA test at Daytona, Herta tested with Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing in the GTP class.

Edited by Pranay Bhagi