Yelloly Quickest in Opening Test Session at Daytona

Photo: Brandon Badraoui/IMSA

Nick Yelloly led the way in the opening session of the weekend at the IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway, in a 1-2 run for the pair of Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06 cars.

Yelloy reeled off a best lap of 1:35.725 in his No. 93 Acura that he’s sharing with season-long co-driver Renger van der Zande this weekend.

The time was 0.516 seconds quicker than the sister No. 60 Acura of Tom Blomvist, which features the return AJ Allmendinger to the Ohio-based team.

The No. 85 JDC-Miller Motorsports Porsche 963 of Nico Pino, which is running in 2025 configuration, was third on the time charts, with updated No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V-Series.R of Filipe Albuquerque and No. 7 Penske Porsche of Felipe Nasr completing the top-five.

LMP2 was led by the No. 43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca 07 Gibson of Tom Dillmann.

The No. 73 Pratt Miller Motorsports entry and No. 99 AO Racing entries were second and third in class, respectively.

All GTP/LMP2 cars turned set times except for the No. 23 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Valkyrie, which stopped on NASCAR Turn 4 on Ross Gunn’s out lap and brought out one of three red flags in the three-and-a-half hour session.

Co-driver Roman De Angelis told Sportscar365 the car suffered electrical issues, with the team opting to replace components on the car to be ready for the remainder of the test.

The second red was for a spin by the No. 43 Inter Europol Oreca of Bijoy Garg at the wheel, while possible debris or track inspection was the likely cause for a third red flag, which lasted only three minutes.

The second test session of the day, also reserved only for prototype machinery, will run from 1:30-5 p.m. ET.

RESULTS: Test Session 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