Source: dailysportscar.com (2026)
Key Findings at a Glance
- → Acura and Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) will put the factory Acura ARX-06 GTP program on hiatus after the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season This shift pushes Acura’s motorsport focus and marketing money toward IndyCar instead of IMSA sports car racing. [dailysportscar.com]
- → Meyer Shank Racing IndyCar third car, backed by a Honda-held charter, is set to debut in 2028 Once the Acura GTP program winds down, most MSR personnel and resources move to this new IndyCar entry. [dailysportscar.com]
- → Acura branding will appear on Meyer Shank Racing Honda-powered IndyCars at select 2026 races, including Marcus Armstrong’s #66 at the 110th Indianapolis 500 This marks the first time the Acura brand has appeared on the grid at the Indianapolis 500. [autoracing1.com]
- → In February 2026, Honda and Chevrolet both committed to remain IndyCar engine manufacturers for ‘multiple years’ The commitment follows years of rumors that Honda might exit, similar to its recent pullback from IMSA GTP. [The Drive (via Facebook)]
- → Six current or recent IndyCar drivers (Will Power, Romain Grosjean, Kyle Kirkwood, Callum Ilott, Juri Vips, Benjamin Pedersen) tested GT cars during IMSA’s November 2025 Daytona test Shows growing crossover between IndyCar talent and IMSA GT competition ahead of the Rolex 24. [imsa.com]
- → Will Power is set to make his Rolex 24 debut in the No. 75 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3 in GTD PRO, after previously withdrawing from a planned 2023 debut A two-time IndyCar champion and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner adding IMSA sports car racing to his schedule after moving from Team Penske to Andretti Global for 2026. [imsa.com]
- → Meyer Shank Racing has won three IMSA series championships and three overall Rolex 24 At Daytona victories since entering Grand-Am’s Daytona Prototype category in 2004 Establishes MSR’s long sports car racing record before its recent IndyCar success. [dailysportscar.com]
Meyer Shank Racing has raced in IMSA and its predecessor series Grand-Am for 23 seasons, a run team owner Michael Shank calls the backbone that made the team’s IndyCar program possible. That sports car record now sits at the center of a wider change, as Acura and Honda Racing Corporation USA prepare to pause their factory GTP program after the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. The move points sponsorship money and staff from IMSA sports cars into IndyCar, including a new Honda-backed MSR entry planned for 2028.
1How Long Has Meyer Shank Racing Raced in IMSA?
Meyer Shank Racing has competed in IMSA and Grand-Am for 23 seasons, starting with a Daytona Prototype entry in 2004. The team has won three IMSA series championships, three overall Rolex 24 At Daytona races, and back-to-back GTD titles in 2019 and 2020, missing only the 2024 season.
| METRIC | VALUE | SOURCE |
|---|---|---|
| MSR seasons in IMSA/Grand-Am | 23 seasons | dailysportscar.com |
| MSR IMSA series championships won | 3 championships | dailysportscar.com |
| MSR overall Rolex 24 At Daytona victories | 3 wins | dailysportscar.com |
| MSR first Grand-Am Daytona Prototype entry year | 2004 year | dailysportscar.com |
| MSR Ligier JS P2 (LMP2) IMSA run | 2015 to 2016 years | dailysportscar.com |
| MSR Acura NSX GT3 introduction year | 2017 year | dailysportscar.com |
| MSR back-to-back GTD class titles | 2019 and 2020 years | dailysportscar.com |
| MSR absence from IMSA (prior gap year) | 2024 year | dailysportscar.com |
| Source: dailysportscar.com | ||
Michael Shank’s team ran a Ligier JS P2 in IMSA’s LMP2 class through 2015 and 2016 before switching to the Acura NSX GT3 in 2017, a car that carried MSR to back-to-back GTD championships in 2019 and 2020. That sports car foundation funded the jump into open-wheel racing, a move covered in our look at IndyCar driver insights and the wider change discussed in IndyCar technical innovations. The team’s only gap year came in 2024, a pause Shank has said he wants to avoid repeating as the Acura GTP program winds down.
2What Happens to MSR’s IMSA Program After Acura’s GTP Exit?
Meyer Shank Racing’s Acura ARX-06 GTP program pauses after the 2026 IMSA season, sending most staff and equipment to a new Honda-backed IndyCar entry set to debut in 2028. Acura’s Long Beach Grand Prix title sponsorship, running 8 years, and its Indianapolis 500 debut at the 110th running mark the brand’s parallel shift into open-wheel racing.
| METRIC | VALUE | SOURCE |
|---|---|---|
| New MSR IndyCar third car debut (Honda-held charter) | 2028 year | dailysportscar.com |
| Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach title sponsorship tenure | 8 years | autoracing1.com |
| Indianapolis 500 edition featuring first Acura brand appearance | 110th running | autoracing1.com |
| Source: dailysportscar.com | ||
Acura’s eight-year run as title sponsor of the Grand Prix of Long Beach already tied the brand to IndyCar before the GTP pause, and the badge’s arrival on Marcus Armstrong’s #66 car at the 110th Indianapolis 500 confirmed the direction. Fans tracking these entries across the calendar can check the full slate in our 2026 IndyCar schedule breakdown. The Honda-held charter behind the planned 2028 third car gives MSR a defined landing spot for staff once the GTP effort closes out, a transition our motorsport technical roles guide breaks down further.
3Is IndyCar Viewership Growing in 2026?
IndyCar posted its most-watched Indianapolis 500 on Fox in 17 years, and the first four 2026 races drew the largest TV audiences since 2008. Those numbers line up with Acura’s marketing shift and Honda and Chevrolet’s February 2026 pledge to stay as engine builders for multiple years.
| METRIC | VALUE | SOURCE |
|---|---|---|
| Most-watched Indianapolis 500 on Fox broadcast | 17 years (record span) | autoracing1.com |
| Largest IndyCar TV audiences for first four 2026 races | since 2008 year benchmark | autoracing1.com |
| Source: autoracing1.com | ||
The Fox broadcast numbers give sponsors like Acura a data-backed case for spending marketing money on open-wheel racing rather than sports cars. Engine partners Honda and Chevrolet both confirmed in February 2026 that they intend to stay in IndyCar for multiple years, a pledge that follows years of talk about a possible Honda exit similar to its IMSA GTP pullback. Readers comparing series growth against other championships can see how the numbers stack up in our IndyCar and WEC comparison. The sports car side of that growth story sits in WEC innovation for 2026.
4Which IndyCar Drivers Are Testing IMSA GT Cars?
Six current or recent IndyCar drivers—Will Power, Romain Grosjean, Kyle Kirkwood, Callum Ilott, Juri Vips, and Benjamin Pedersen—tested GT cars at IMSA’s November 2025 Daytona test on the 3.56-mile road course. Power, a two-time IndyCar champion, will make his Rolex 24 debut in the No. 75 Mercedes-AMG GT3 in GTD PRO.
| METRIC | VALUE | SOURCE |
|---|---|---|
| IndyCar drivers who tested GT cars at IMSA November 2025 Daytona test | 6 drivers | imsa.com |
| Will Power’s Rolex 24 result in GTD (2021, with Kenny Habul) | 2nd place finish | imsa.com |
| Daytona International Speedway road course length | 3.56 miles | imsa.com |
| Source: imsa.com | ||
Power’s move from Team Penske to Andretti Global for the 2026 IndyCar season lines up with his long-delayed Rolex 24 start, after he pulled out of a planned 2023 debut and finished second in GTD back in 2021 alongside Kenny Habul. Kirkwood, Ilott, Vips, Grosjean, and Pedersen joining him at the Daytona test signals a wider comfort level among IndyCar regulars with GT machinery on IMSA’s 3.56-mile road course. That crossover trend gets more room in our piece on motorsport driver development, and readers tracking similar moves on the sports car side can check 2026 WEC driver lineups.
5Who Runs IMSA and When Was It Founded?
IMSA was founded in 1969, decades before Meyer Shank Racing’s first Grand-Am entry in 2004. Current leadership includes John Doonan as President, Jim France as Chairman, and Ed Bennett as CEO, the group overseeing the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as Acura’s GTP program nears its pause.
| METRIC | VALUE | SOURCE |
|---|---|---|
| IMSA founding year | 1969 year | Wikipedia |
| IMSA leadership | John Doonan (President), Jim France (Chairman), Ed Bennett (CEO) names | Wikipedia |
| Source: Wikipedia | ||
John Doonan, Jim France, and Ed Bennett lead an organization that has run sports car racing in North America since 1969, long before MSR joined as a Daytona Prototype entrant in 2004. That decades-long structure is what let a single team’s sports car results become the funding base for a separate IndyCar program. Readers interested in how sanctioning bodies compare across series can look at our WEC historical performance comparison for more background, or check motorsport management roles for how leadership structures work across racing organizations.
Complete Data Reference
Sortable table of all verified data points. Click any column header to sort.
| Metric | Value | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSR seasons in IMSA/Grand-Am | 23 seasons | dailysportscar.com | 2026 |
| MSR IMSA series championships won | 3 championships | dailysportscar.com | 2026 |
| MSR overall Rolex 24 At Daytona victories | 3 wins | dailysportscar.com | 2026 |
| MSR first Grand-Am Daytona Prototype entry year | 2004 year | dailysportscar.com | 2026 |
| MSR Ligier JS P2 (LMP2) IMSA run | 2015 to 2016 years | dailysportscar.com | 2026 |
| MSR Acura NSX GT3 introduction year | 2017 year | dailysportscar.com | 2026 |
| MSR back-to-back GTD class titles | 2019 and 2020 years | dailysportscar.com | 2026 |
| MSR absence from IMSA (prior gap year) | 2024 year | dailysportscar.com | 2026 |
| New MSR IndyCar third car debut (Honda-held charter) | 2028 year | dailysportscar.com | 2026 |
| Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach title sponsorship tenure | 8 years | autoracing1.com | 2026 |
| Indianapolis 500 edition featuring first Acura brand appearance | 110th running | autoracing1.com | 2026 |
| Most-watched Indianapolis 500 on Fox broadcast | 17 years (record span) | autoracing1.com | 2026 |
| Largest IndyCar TV audiences for first four 2026 races | since 2008 year benchmark | autoracing1.com | 2026 |
| IndyCar drivers who tested GT cars at IMSA November 2025 Daytona test | 6 drivers | imsa.com | 2025 |
| Will Power’s Rolex 24 result in GTD (2021, with Kenny Habul) | 2nd place finish | imsa.com | 2025 |
| Daytona International Speedway road course length | 3.56 miles | imsa.com | 2025 |
| IMSA founding year | 1969 year | Wikipedia | 2004 |
| IMSA leadership | John Doonan (President), Jim France (Chairman), Ed Bennett (CEO) names | Wikipedia | 2004 |
Methodology
Several core facts about Meyer Shank Racing’s history and the 2028 third-car plan trace back to a single dailysportscar.com report, so those figures could not be cross-checked against a second outlet. Forward-looking items, such as the 2028 IndyCar debut and the multi-year Honda/Chevrolet engine pledge, rest on statements made in early-to-mid 2026 and may change as team and manufacturer plans firm up. The Facebook-hosted Drive post lacks a clear publish date, which limits precise timeline placement.
- Sources consulted: 10
- Sources cited: 4
- Data range: 2025-11-16 to 2026-05-26
- Freshness: 3 current-year, 1 last-year, 0 older
- Update schedule: Quarterly
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Acura leaving IMSA but staying in IndyCar?
Acura and Honda Racing Corporation USA will pause the factory Acura ARX-06 GTP program after the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season ends. The brand is moving its racing budget and marketing attention toward IndyCar instead. Acura badges already showed up on Meyer Shank Racing’s Honda-powered IndyCars in 2026, including Marcus Armstrong’s #66 car at the Indianapolis 500. [dailysportscar.com]
How long has Meyer Shank Racing raced in IMSA?
Meyer Shank Racing has competed in IMSA and its earlier series Grand-Am for 23 seasons, starting with a Daytona Prototype entry in 2004. Team owner Michael Shank calls this long sports car record the backbone that made the team’s IndyCar program possible. Along the way, MSR ran LMP2 cars and later Acura NSX GT3 machines. [dailysportscar.com]
What happens to MSR’s IMSA program after Acura’s GTP exit?
Once the Acura GTP program winds down after the 2026 season, most Meyer Shank Racing staff and gear move to a new IndyCar entry. This third IndyCar, backed by a Honda-held charter, is planned to hit the track in 2028. Shank has said he wants to avoid another gap year like the team’s 2024 absence from IMSA. [dailysportscar.com]
Will Honda leave IndyCar like it stepped back from IMSA GTP?
Nothing points that way so far. In February 2026, both Honda and Chevrolet said they will stay as IndyCar engine builders for multiple years. This came after years of talk that Honda might exit, much like its pullback from IMSA’s GTP class. The pledge gives IndyCar teams and fans a clearer picture of engine supply going forward. [The Drive (via Facebook)]
Which IndyCar drivers are crossing over to IMSA sports car racing?
Six current or recent IndyCar drivers—Will Power, Romain Grosjean, Kyle Kirkwood, Callum Ilott, Juri Vips, and Benjamin Pedersen—tested GT cars at IMSA’s November 2025 Daytona test. Will Power will make his Rolex 24 debut in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the GTD PRO class, years after pulling out of an earlier planned start. [imsa.com]
Is this the first time Acura has appeared at the Indianapolis 500?
Yes. Acura branding appeared on Meyer Shank Racing’s Honda-powered IndyCars at chosen 2026 races, including Marcus Armstrong’s #66 car at the 110th Indianapolis 500. This was the Acura brand’s first appearance on that grid, showing how the brand’s marketing money is shifting from sports cars toward open-wheel racing. [autoracing1.com]
What has Meyer Shank Racing won in IMSA over the years?
Since joining Grand-Am’s Daytona Prototype class in 2004, Meyer Shank Racing has taken three IMSA series championships and three overall wins at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The team also earned back-to-back GTD class titles in 2019 and 2020, building a sports car record that helped pay for its later move into IndyCar. [dailysportscar.com]
Sources & References
- dailysportscar.com. “Meyer Shank Racing Still Working on IMSA Future.” https://www.dailysportscar.com/2026/05/26/meyer-shank-racing-still-working-on-imsa-future.html. Accessed 2026-08-16.
- autoracing1.com. “IndyCar News: Acura Dumps IMSA, Moves Money to IndyCar.” https://www.autoracing1.com/pl/491451/indycar-news-acura-dumps-imsa-moves-money-to-indycar/. Accessed 2026-08-16.
- The Drive (via Facebook). “In February, Honda and Chevrolet Both Committed to Continue as Engine Manufacturers.” https://www.facebook.com/thedrive/posts/in-february-honda-and-chevrolet-both-committed-to-continue-as-engine-manufacture/1359240872743822/. Accessed 2026-08-16.
- imsa.com. “Getting Acquainted: Power, Grosjean and RLL Learn New IMSA Programs.” https://www.imsa.com/news/2025/11/16/getting-acquainted-power-grosjean-and-rll-learn-new-imsa-programs/. Accessed 2026-08-16.
Last updated: August 16, 2026
