Kirkwood sets the pace in final Sebring IndyCar test session

Sixteen combined hours of IndyCar Series testing on Monday and Tuesday at Sebring International Raceway’s short course saw Alex Palou lead the first four-hour block, Marcus Armstrong take the second and third four-hour runs, and Kyle Kirkwood close proceedings on top with his No. 27 Andretti Global Honda.

Honda-powered drivers led every session, with Armstrong’s Tuesday morning lap of 52.372s in the No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing Honda serving as the best and Kirkwood’s 52.479s sprint helping the Florida native to end the home state visit with promising pace.

Drivers used two sets of Firestone’s 2025 primary tires and two sets of the new 2026 primaries, and according to Armstrong, there wasn't much between them.

“They weren't really different, if I'm honest,” he said. “It seemed like they had a bit slower temperature builds, which is exactly what they told us (to expect). And then the balance and actual grip characteristics, I thought were quite similar.”

Teams have a brief respite before converting the cars to short oval specification and sending them west for next week’s Wednesday-Thursday Spring Training test at Phoenix Raceway.

Unofficial times

1. Kyle Kirkwood: 52.479s, No. 27 Andretti Global Honda
2. Felix Rosenqvist: 52.702s, No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda
3. Marcus Ericsson: 52.823s, No. 28 Andretti Global Honda
4. Rinus VeeKay: 52.845s, No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevy
5. Alex Palou: 52.874s, No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
6. Caio Collet: 52.891s, No. 4 AJ Foyt Racing Chevy
7. Josef Newgarden: 53.018s, No. 2 Team Penske Chevy
8. Pato O’Ward: 53.036s, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevy
9. David Malukas: 53.167s, No. 12 Team Penske Chevy
10. Romain Grosjean: 53.220s, No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda
11. Mick Schumacher: 53.430s, No. 47 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
12. Graham Rahal: 53.519s, No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda