Click for more.
Well, the paddock rumors were accurate – or should AutoInformed say Acura-it? Marcus Armstrong’s Honda-powered IndyCar will carry Acura branding in the 2026 Indianapolis 500, the Acura’s first appearance on the Indy 500 grid. Moreover, Acura will “pause “ the IMSA GTP program following 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. This move to the NTT IndyCar Series keeps the Acura name in motorsports of course. It also, perhaps, adds a complication to the viability of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, if other brands do likewise.*
“We’re excited for the Acura brand expansion into the NTT IndyCar Series and we can’t wait to see our Acura livery take on the Indy 500”, said Hundy Liu, manager, Acura Brand Marketing. “We saw a great response to the livery on Felix Rosenqvist’s MSR car last week at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, and I know it will be even more exciting to see the Acura brand on Marcus Armstrong’s car at Indianapolis.”
“The IndyCar series has shown incredible growth in the last year and a half and we see it as a powerful opportunity to build awareness for our Acura brand, particularly on a stage where Honda-powered teams and drivers have been so successful recently,” said Liu. We look forward to this new chapter for Acura in motorsports.”
Acura currently competes in IMSA with two electrified ARX-06 GTP class prototypes fielded by Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian. The #60 ARX-06 is driven by Colin Braun and Tom Blomqvist for the full 2026 season. On the #93 Acura GTP entry, Honda Racing Corporation USA** calls strategy and handles race engineering for the car in IMSA competition, said to be a manufacturer first. Piloting the #93 machine in 2026 are full-season drivers Renger van der Zande and Nick Yelloly who won last week at Long Beach.
“We are extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished during this era of Acura prototype racing which began back in 2018 with the introduction of the Acura ARX-05 and we are committed to compete for the championship in IMSA’s GTP category through 2026 with the hybrid Acura ARX-06 competing in IMSA’s GTP category,” said David Salters, President Honda Racing Corporation USA.**
“We’ve scored 25 wins, 34 poles and 10 championships during this time and look forward to finishing 2026 strong. I want to recognize all the talented women and men of HRC US, Acura, Meyer Shank Racing and Oreca [a chassis builder for many makers – AutoCrat] who have worked tirelessly to get us to where we are in this highly competitive GTP field,” said Salters.
This is the first appearance for Acura branding this season in the NTT IndyCar Series. Meyer Shank Racing and driver Jack Harvey did run a special Acura livery in 2019 at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach to celebrate the brand’s first year as title sponsor of the race. It was the brand’s first foray into IndyCar since 1994 when Comptech Racing ran Acura branding on its Honda-powered Lola driven by Parker Johnstone.
*AutoInformed on
**About Honda Racing Corporation USA
Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) says it creates, manufacture, and supports Honda Racing and Acura Motorsports customers since its founding in 1993 as Honda Performance Development (HPD). In January 2024, HPD became HRC US, combining with HRC Japan to strengthen the company’s overall motorsports capabilities. From racing in INDYCAR and IMSA sports cars to commercial racing programs, HRC US leads all Honda and Acura high-performance racing programs in North America and is involved in Honda’s Formula One power unit development and race support in 2026.
HRC US specializes in the design and development and manufacturing of powertrain, chassis, electronics, and performance parts, as well as technical and race support. The company also offers parts and race support to Honda and Acura amateur and professional motorsports racers; and is continually expanding its palette of racing programs that make Honda racing products available to all racing styles, from karting and quarter midgets to the highest levels of professional racing.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Acura to Enter IndyCar. “Pause” IMSA GTP
Click for more.
Well, the paddock rumors were accurate – or should AutoInformed say Acura-it? Marcus Armstrong’s Honda-powered IndyCar will carry Acura branding in the 2026 Indianapolis 500, the Acura’s first appearance on the Indy 500 grid. Moreover, Acura will “pause “ the IMSA GTP program following 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. This move to the NTT IndyCar Series keeps the Acura name in motorsports of course. It also, perhaps, adds a complication to the viability of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, if other brands do likewise.*
“We’re excited for the Acura brand expansion into the NTT IndyCar Series and we can’t wait to see our Acura livery take on the Indy 500”, said Hundy Liu, manager, Acura Brand Marketing. “We saw a great response to the livery on Felix Rosenqvist’s MSR car last week at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, and I know it will be even more exciting to see the Acura brand on Marcus Armstrong’s car at Indianapolis.”
“The IndyCar series has shown incredible growth in the last year and a half and we see it as a powerful opportunity to build awareness for our Acura brand, particularly on a stage where Honda-powered teams and drivers have been so successful recently,” said Liu. We look forward to this new chapter for Acura in motorsports.”
Acura currently competes in IMSA with two electrified ARX-06 GTP class prototypes fielded by Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian. The #60 ARX-06 is driven by Colin Braun and Tom Blomqvist for the full 2026 season. On the #93 Acura GTP entry, Honda Racing Corporation USA** calls strategy and handles race engineering for the car in IMSA competition, said to be a manufacturer first. Piloting the #93 machine in 2026 are full-season drivers Renger van der Zande and Nick Yelloly who won last week at Long Beach.
“We are extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished during this era of Acura prototype racing which began back in 2018 with the introduction of the Acura ARX-05 and we are committed to compete for the championship in IMSA’s GTP category through 2026 with the hybrid Acura ARX-06 competing in IMSA’s GTP category,” said David Salters, President Honda Racing Corporation USA.**
“We’ve scored 25 wins, 34 poles and 10 championships during this time and look forward to finishing 2026 strong. I want to recognize all the talented women and men of HRC US, Acura, Meyer Shank Racing and Oreca [a chassis builder for many makers – AutoCrat] who have worked tirelessly to get us to where we are in this highly competitive GTP field,” said Salters.
This is the first appearance for Acura branding this season in the NTT IndyCar Series. Meyer Shank Racing and driver Jack Harvey did run a special Acura livery in 2019 at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach to celebrate the brand’s first year as title sponsor of the race. It was the brand’s first foray into IndyCar since 1994 when Comptech Racing ran Acura branding on its Honda-powered Lola driven by Parker Johnstone.
*AutoInformed on
**About Honda Racing Corporation USA
Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) says it creates, manufacture, and supports Honda Racing and Acura Motorsports customers since its founding in 1993 as Honda Performance Development (HPD). In January 2024, HPD became HRC US, combining with HRC Japan to strengthen the company’s overall motorsports capabilities. From racing in INDYCAR and IMSA sports cars to commercial racing programs, HRC US leads all Honda and Acura high-performance racing programs in North America and is involved in Honda’s Formula One power unit development and race support in 2026.
HRC US specializes in the design and development and manufacturing of powertrain, chassis, electronics, and performance parts, as well as technical and race support. The company also offers parts and race support to Honda and Acura amateur and professional motorsports racers; and is continually expanding its palette of racing programs that make Honda racing products available to all racing styles, from karting and quarter midgets to the highest levels of professional racing.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.