Marcus Armstrong of Meyer Shank Racing posted the quickest overall lap time during a two-day private IndyCar team test at Sebring International Raceway on Tuesday, signaling a potential breakout season for the New Zealand native. The test, held February 9-10, saw 24 drivers navigate the notoriously bumpy 1.67-mile circuit, a proving ground for the upcoming Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 1.
Armstrong’s fastest lap of 52.373 seconds on Tuesday morning edged out Monday’s quickest time of 52.626 seconds set by reigning series champion Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing. Honda-powered drivers led all four sessions, with Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Global posting the second-fastest time overall at 52.479 seconds.
The Sebring track’s challenging surface, with its varying types and bumps, is designed to mimic the conditions found on temporary street circuits like the one in St. Petersburg, according to IndyCar.com.
Palou, who dominated the 2025 season with eight wins, demonstrated continued pace, finishing fifth in Tuesday’s afternoon session. His time of 52.874 was roughly four-tenths of a second slower than Armstrong’s best.
Romain Grosjean, a veteran driver, turned laps for Dale Coyne Racing, potentially setting the stage for a return to the team where he debuted in IndyCar in 2021. Grosjean, who earned the nickname “The Phoenix” after surviving a fiery crash in Formula One, was evaluating a potential drive alongside rookie Dennis Hauger. He improved his times throughout the test, finishing Tuesday afternoon at 53.220 seconds.
The driver swap between Team Penske and Andretti Global also drew attention. David Malukas, now driving for Penske, and Will Power, now with Andretti, both acclimated to their new teams and cars. Malukas showed improvement between sessions, while Power posted a competitive time of 52.611 on Tuesday morning, just behind Armstrong.
Rookie contenders also participated in the test. Caio Collet of AJ Foyt Racing posted the fastest lap among the first-year drivers, with a time of 52.891 seconds on Tuesday afternoon. Dennis Hauger, the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone champion, and Formula One veteran Mick Schumacher also turned laps, gaining valuable experience as they prepare for their IndyCar debuts. Hunter McElrea, despite not currently having a confirmed seat, posted a quick lap of 52.730 on Tuesday morning while evaluating with Ed Carpenter Racing.
The next on-track session for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is scheduled for February 17-18 at Phoenix Raceway, the Unser INDYCAR Open Test. All teams and drivers are expected to participate, preparing for the Good Ranchers 250 on March 7, which will be held in conjunction with a NASCAR event.
