Race
IMSA 2026
Round 1
Acura fifth, ninth in foggy Rolex 24
Daytona International SpeedwayAcura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian kicked off the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a top-five finish in the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Renger van der Zande, Nick Yelloly, four-time and reigning Honda-powered NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and 2025 Indy 500 winner Alex Palou and Honda Super Formula race winner Kaku Ohta drove back from adversity to claim a top-five finish in the 64th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
The #93 Acura ARX-06 started from pole position and led 43 laps in the early stages of the race. However, a loose wheel shortly before the halfway mark put the #93 one lap down to the IMSA GTP field. Ohta, behind the wheel at the time of the incident, was able to safely drive the car all the way back to pit lane, preserving the #93's chance to fight later in the race.
The wheel issue, however, was soon followed by the longest caution flag in Rolex 24 history at six hours and 33 minutes—or 120 laps—rendering the team unable to get their lap back until racing resumed in the morning.
The Acura MSR #93 team would get their lap back in the morning hours and work their way through to field to cross the line in fifth place. Ohta would drive five hours and 17 minutes of the event, gaining incredibly beneficial experience in his second season doing select races in the IMSA championship.
The sister #60 Acura ARX-06, piloted by Tom Blomqvist, Colin Braun, IndyCar legend Scott Dixon and open wheel and NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger spent much of the race in the hunt for a podium finish. The quartet of drivers—who already share 10 Rolex 24 wins between them—were running in the top five before needing a late-race splash of fuel to make it to the checkered flag, ultimately finishing ninth.
The 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship rolls on to another Florida endurance racing classic, the 12 Hours of Sebring, March 19-21.
Nick Yelloly
93
Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian #93 P5 today, but that's not what we came here to achieve. We didn't have the pace that we had hoped for and we couldn't really chase or fight for most of the race, particularly when the heat came up. Onwards and upwards to Sebring where I hope we can resurrect our pace problems a little bit and get back on that podium.
P5 today, but that's not what we came here to achieve. We didn't have the pace that we had hoped for and we couldn't really chase or fight for most of the race, particularly when the heat came up. Onwards and upwards to Sebring where I hope we can resurrect our pace problems a little bit and get back on that podium.
Renger van der Zande
93
Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian #93 P5 in Daytona, it's not the result that we came for. We wanted to win so bad, but the pace was just not there. I think we have a lot to improve on the pit stand and on the car. We will go home with a bag of homework and hopefully we'll come back stronger when we return for Sebring.
P5 in Daytona, it's not the result that we came for. We wanted to win so bad, but the pace was just not there. I think we have a lot to improve on the pit stand and on the car. We will go home with a bag of homework and hopefully we'll come back stronger when we return for Sebring.
Alex Palou
93
Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian #93 I'm happy that we finished. Last year we didn't finish on the lead lap and this year we finished in the top five. Of course, it's never the best day when you're not fighting for the win, but I think it's been a positive two days. I got a lot out of the car; I just don't think we really had much more speed in it. This prepares us well for Sebring in a couple of months!
I'm happy that we finished. Last year we didn't finish on the lead lap and this year we finished in the top five. Of course, it's never the best day when you're not fighting for the win, but I think it's been a positive two days. I got a lot out of the car; I just don't think we really had much more speed in it. This prepares us well for Sebring in a couple of months!
Kakunoshin Ohta
93
Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian #93 We led a lot of laps towards the beginning of the race, but unfortunately, we ran into an issue during one of my stints when I exited pit lane and the left front tire came off. I was able to bring the car back to the pit box, but it was a hard setback to recover from. Everyone on the #93 Acura did their best, and we executed almost perfectly all race long. It was just some poor luck that came our way. It's a shame that we couldn't quite finish on the podium, but we progressed relative to last year's outing. We'll keep moving forward and focus on the next one. I'm so thankful to HRC and Acura for this opportunity. HRC and MSR have assembled such a great group to learn from in IMSA and I can't wait for the next one.
We led a lot of laps towards the beginning of the race, but unfortunately, we ran into an issue during one of my stints when I exited pit lane and the left front tire came off. I was able to bring the car back to the pit box, but it was a hard setback to recover from. Everyone on the #93 Acura did their best, and we executed almost perfectly all race long. It was just some poor luck that came our way. It's a shame that we couldn't quite finish on the podium, but we progressed relative to last year's outing. We'll keep moving forward and focus on the next one. I'm so thankful to HRC and Acura for this opportunity. HRC and MSR have assembled such a great group to learn from in IMSA and I can't wait for the next one.
Tom Blomqvist
60
Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian #60 Very disappointing result for us. We had pace at times but we were so far out of position and then we were out of sync with the strategy so we were kind of on the back foot. Relying on luck is never a nice thing in racing and more times than none that doesn't play out well. We have a lot of homework to do ahead of Sebring, to figure out why we struggled for pace compared to some of the competition.
Very disappointing result for us. We had pace at times but we were so far out of position and then we were out of sync with the strategy so we were kind of on the back foot. Relying on luck is never a nice thing in racing and more times than none that doesn't play out well. We have a lot of homework to do ahead of Sebring, to figure out why we struggled for pace compared to some of the competition.
Colin Braun
60
Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian #60 Not the day we were looking for on the #60 side. Congrats to the #93 guys on a top five. Our race it felt like we were up there, but I think we struggled with the rear [tire] degradation as it got warmer. The guys did a great job on the strategy options to try and make something happen. We had a great strategy going with our tires, but the long caution period kind of deleted that plan and changed the game for us. But overall, AJ, Scott and Tom all did a great job and the guys in the pits had some nice clean stops.
Not the day we were looking for on the #60 side. Congrats to the #93 guys on a top five. Our race it felt like we were up there, but I think we struggled with the rear [tire] degradation as it got warmer. The guys did a great job on the strategy options to try and make something happen. We had a great strategy going with our tires, but the long caution period kind of deleted that plan and changed the game for us. But overall, AJ, Scott and Tom all did a great job and the guys in the pits had some nice clean stops.
Scott Dixon
60
Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian #60 It was tough, maybe one of the toughest 24 hours I've ever done. The car balance was really tricky, degradation was really tough. We made it to the end but it was a particularly hard one.
It was tough, maybe one of the toughest 24 hours I've ever done. The car balance was really tricky, degradation was really tough. We made it to the end but it was a particularly hard one.
AJ Allmendinger
60
Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian #60 I enjoyed the process, it was definitely difficult. I just love working with Mike Shank and MSR. I wish it would have gone better and I wish I could have done more. But at the end of the day it was a fun challenge. Even through the tough times, I had a lot of fun with it. I don't know if it will be my last or not, but at the end of the day I've had a really good time.
I enjoyed the process, it was definitely difficult. I just love working with Mike Shank and MSR. I wish it would have gone better and I wish I could have done more. But at the end of the day it was a fun challenge. Even through the tough times, I had a lot of fun with it. I don't know if it will be my last or not, but at the end of the day I've had a really good time.
David Salters
-
President, HRC US I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated team members at HRC and MSR for their tremendous effort in getting us through the 24-hour race, which is a significant achievement once again. Additionally, I must commend our outstanding drivers who drove superbly, battling fiercely for every position with unwavering commitment and skill. Despite their remarkable performance, we simply lacked the necessary pace throughout the race. However, we will regroup, learn, and come back stronger as a team.
I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated team members at HRC and MSR for their tremendous effort in getting us through the 24-hour race, which is a significant achievement once again. Additionally, I must commend our outstanding drivers who drove superbly, battling fiercely for every position with unwavering commitment and skill. Despite their remarkable performance, we simply lacked the necessary pace throughout the race. However, we will regroup, learn, and come back stronger as a team.
