Alex Palou topped the timesheets on the first day of the 2026 IndyCar pre-season test at Sebring International Raceway as Romain Grosjean made a return to the track with Dale Coyne Racing.
The four-time reigning champion set a blistering lap time of 52.626 seconds in the morning Group 1 session, underscoring Chip Ganassi Racing’s strong preparations for the upcoming season.
The test, held on the notoriously bumpy short course configuration of Sebring—a demanding 2.0-mile layout blending concrete and tarmac from the historic airfield—served as a critical shakedown for teams to validate new cars ahead of 2026 season opener in St. Petersburg.
The two-day split-field Sebring test kicked off on Monday with cooler morning conditions favoring Group 1 runners, where temperatures hovered around manageable levels for optimal tire performance.
Chip Ganassi Racing’s technical alliance with Meyer Shank Racing shone early, as Palou‘s lap edged out Felix Rosenqvist in the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda by just 0.024s.
Rinus VeeKay, adapting to his new seat at Juncos Hollinger Racing slotted into third with a solid 52.756 seconds, showing promise for the Chevrolet-powered squad on a track notorious for punishing chassis setups over its concrete bumps and elevation changes.
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Josef Newgarden in the No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet clocked the fourth fastest lap, while Kyle Kirkwood in the No. 27 Andretti Global Honda and Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren followed closely in sixth and seventh.
Group 2 took to the track in the afternoon under warmer conditions with air temperatures climbing to 24 degrees Celsius, which softened tire degradation and shifted focus toward long-run simulations rather than outright qualifying simulations.
Marcus Armstrong led the session for Meyer Shank Racing with 52.847 seconds, securing fifth overall as Scott McLaughlin impressed in eighth overall for Penske.
Sting Ray Robb continued his upward trajectory in ninth for Juncos Hollinger with Kyffin Simpson rounding out the top ten in the No. 9 Honda.
Romain Grosjean marked his IndyCar return in sensational fashion for Dale Coyne Racing, posting 53.798 seconds in 22nd during the morning after a year-plus hiatus.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan rookie Mick Schumacher brought up the rear in 23rd from Group 1, but emphasized post-session that the test was about checklist items for St. Pete rather than chasing headlines.
Full 2026 IndyCar Sebring test Day 1 Results
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time | Session |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Palou | Chip Ganassi Honda | 52.626s | Morning |
| 2 | Felix Rosenqvist | Meyer Shank Honda | 52.650s | Morning |
| 3 | Rinus VeeKay | Juncos Hollinger Chevrolet | 52.756s | Morning |
| 4 | Josef Newgarden | Team Penske Chevrolet | 52.846s | Morning |
| 5 | Marcus Armstrong | Meyer Shank Honda | 52.847s | Afternoon |
| 6 | Kyle Kirkwood | Andretti Honda | 52.918s | Morning |
| 7 | Pato O’Ward | Arrow McLaren Chevrolet | 53.018s | Morning |
| 8 | Scott McLaughlin | Team Penske Chevrolet | 53.039s | Afternoon |
| 9 | Sting Ray Robb | Juncos Hollinger Chevrolet | 53.050s | Afternoon |
| 10 | Kyffin Simpson | Chip Ganassi Honda | 53.135s | Afternoon |
| 11 | Marcus Ericsson | Andretti Honda | 53.165s | Morning |
| 12 | Louis Foster | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda | 53.167s | Afternoon |
| 13 | Nolan Siegel | Arrow McLaren Chevrolet | 53.172s | Afternoon |
| 14 | Scott Dixon | Chip Ganassi Honda | 53.210s | Afternoon |
| 15 | Graham Rahal | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda | 53.325s | Morning |
| 16 | Santino Ferrucci | AJ Foyt Chevrolet | 53.337s | Afternoon |
| 17 | Will Power | Andretti Honda | 53.337s | Afternoon |
| 18 | Dennis Hauger | Dale Coyne Honda | 53.413s | Afternoon |
| 19 | David Malukas | Team Penske Chevrolet | 53.442s | Morning |
| 20 | Caio Collet | AJ Foyt Chevrolet | 53.656s | Morning |
| 21 | Christian Lundgaard | Arrow McLaren Chevrolet | 53.769s | Afternoon |
| 22 | Romain Grosjean | Dale Coyne Honda | 53.798s | Morning |
| 23 | Mick Schumacher | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda | 54.269s | Morning |
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