IndyCar champ Josef Newgarden relives magical Daytona 24 Hours victory after IMSA test for potential 2026 return

Two-time IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden reflected fondly on his sole win at the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona. On Friday, November 14, the Team Penske driver and his teammate, Scott McLaughlin, were at the Daytona International Speedway on day one of IMSA's three-day test for the 2026 edition of the race.

Both drivers were present between the No. 6 and No. 7 Porsche Penske 963 GTP (Grand Touring Prototype) cars. Both Newgarden and McLaughlin had made their IMSA and Daytona 24 Hours debuts in 2023, driving as teammates at Tower Motorsports in the LMP2 class, and finished fifth in their class.

While Scott McLaughlin continued with Tower in 2024, Josef Newgarden upgraded to the GTP class with Porsche Penske and took the overall victory on debut alongside experienced teammates Felipe Nasr, Matt Campbell, and Dane Cameron. The two-time Indy 500 winner shared his emotions about driving the GTP car after day one of testing on Friday and recalled his 2024 victory.

"When you drive this car, you have such a feeling of respect, input-wise," Newgarden said via IMSA. "You don’t want to be the weak link. You need to know your role. (Winning) was different; it felt like being a proud sibling in a way. I was more proud of the work everyone else did! I did a tiny part, but the race was won on the backs of the team, the manufacturer, and the other drivers. To be watching rather than doing is different, but enjoying it."

Their third IndyCar teammate, Will Power, who will leave Team Penske to join Andretti Global in 2026, is set to join the testing in 75 Express’ Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo on Saturday, when the GTD Pro and the GTD classes will join the GTP and LMP2 classes, which had the track to themselves on Friday.

Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin on the radar to drive for Porsche Penske at the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona

Josef Newgarden with Scott McLaughlin at the IndyCar XPEL 375 - Source: Getty

Penske Racing president Jonathan Diguid shared on Friday that both Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin were in contention for a seat with Porsche Penske Motorsport for the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Diguid was promoted from just leading Penske's Sportscar side to his current post involving IndyCar in the aftermath of Team Penske's Indy 500 scandal.

Speaking about the potential inclusion of the IndyCar duo driving for sister team Porsche Penske, he said (via Sportscar365):

"We haven’t made any decisions. It’s definitely the first step in that direction. Josef obviously had good success in the car in the Daytona 24 Hours [in 2024], but this is the first step in the direction. But we haven’t made any decisions for Scott and Josef."

When asked if they would likely be fourth drivers in the No. 6 and No. 7 GTP entries, Diguid affirmed "that would probably be the approach." Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin were all smiles on Friday, with the former saying he would "love" to make a Daytona return.