Montoya Quickest in Opening Practice at Daytona

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Juan Pablo Montoya led the way as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship returned to the track after more than five months Friday at Daytona International Speedway.

The defending DPi champion in the No. 6 Team Penske Acura ARX-05 reeled off a 1:35.960 lap late in the 60-minute evening session, which ran without any major incidents.

Montoya’s time was 0.016 seconds quicker than the No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R of Pipo Derani, whose normal co-driver Felipe Nasr has been ruled out this weekend due to testing positive for COVID-19.

Gabby Chaves spent the majority of the session in the Whelen-sponsored Cadillac.

Harry Tincknell, meanwhile, put the No. 55 Multimatic-run Mazda RT24-P third on the time charts, with Ricky Taylor fourth in the No. 7 Penske Acura DPi.

Chris Miller completed the top-five in the No. 85 JDC-Miller Motorsports Cadillac DPi.

Only seven of the eight DPis turned laps as engine-related issues prevented the No. 77 Mazda DPi from setting a time.

Porsche went quickest in GT Le Mans, with Earl Bamber setting a 1:44.003 in the No. 912 entry, which was 0.072 seconds quicker than the No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette C8.R of Tommy Milner in second.

Bamber’s teammate Fred Makowiecki in the No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR was third in class.

GT Daytona was led by the No. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 of Toni Vilander, ahead of the Townsend Bell-driven No. 12 AIM Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 and No. 86 Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo of Mario Farnbacher.

The second and final practice session of the compact two-day weekend is set to get underway Saturday at 10:15 a.m. ET.

RESULTS: Practice 1

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