AJ Allmendinger, a veteran of nearly every form of motorsport imaginable, found himself back in familiar territory last weekend, at Daytona International Speedway. The 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona winner turned laps in the Acura ARX-06 during Friday\u2019s IMSA-sanctioned test, marking his return to the endurance classic after a four-year break. Now preparing for the 2026 Rolex 24, Allmendinger is reuniting with the event that helped cement his reputation as one of racing\u2019s most adaptable drivers. Despite his wealth of experience, this outing was a fresh challenge for him.<\/p>\n
The 15 laps he completed on Friday morning were his first behind the wheel of Acura\u2019s latest GTP prototype, a machine far removed from his regular NASCAR Cup Series car or the older prototypes he once drove at Daytona.<\/p>\n
Driving for team owner Michael Shank, Allmendinger<\/a> joined an elite roster that includes Tom Blomqvist, Colin Braun, and Scott Dixon, three veterans of Acura Meyer Shank Racing\u2019s 2025 Rolex campaign and seasoned experts in GTP machinery. For Allmendinger, the transition was as thrilling as it was humbling.<\/p>\n \u201cI was on old tyres, so that was some of it, but it was definitely tricky to drive. I\u2019m just trying to learn. A lot of it\u2019s the braking, trying to get used to the braking and what the threshold is of not too much, or too much. I found \u2018too much\u2019 right away. But it\u2019s alright.\u201d<\/p>\n He likened the experience to starting from scratch<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s a proper race car, and it is about as different as you get from a (NASCAR) Cup car than anything. The braking, the grip, the sheer physicality of it all it\u2019s a shock to the system\u2026 I wouldn\u2019t say it\u2019s like trying to learn how to walk again, but it\u2019s a big step, trying to jump in it and know that you\u2019re not going to get a lot of laps,\u201d he added<\/a>.<\/p>\n