Reigning IndyCar champion Will Power has pulled out of his first 24 Hours of Daytona after his wife Liz suffered complications from a surgical procedure.
Power was due to make his debut at the Daytona event alongside his old Formula Ford rival Kenny Habul in a Sun Energy1 Racing Mercedes AMG GT3.
“Liz had a few post-op complications this week and has a long recovery ahead of her,” Power said in a release.
“Obviously her health is my priority and unfortunately that means I’ve had to put Daytona on hold.”
Regular Luca Stolz replaces Power in the Sun Racing1 line-up for the IMSA SportsCar Championship season opener.
Power’s IndyCar teammates Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden contest the event in the LMP2 category for Tower Motorsports.
None of Penske’s three IndyCar drivers were chosen to drive the team’s new Porsche-developed prototype (pictured above). Penske chose established Porsche sportscar stars Mathieu Jaminet, Nick Tandy, Matt Campbell and Michael Christensen, as well as Dane Cameron – who won the 2019 IMSA title alongside Juan Pablo Montoya with Penske’s legacy Acura sportscar program – and the Formula 1 driver who became IMSA Champion, Felipe Nasr.
But four other IndyCar drivers will race the new GTP hybrid prototypes when the class debuts at Daytona, including Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Colton Herta and Simon Pagenaud.
Power’s retirement follows news last week that Haas Formula One driver Kevin Magnussen likely had to do so dropped his planned Daytona trip in a GT car alongside father Jan. The younger Magnussen had to undergo hand surgery ahead of the season.
IndyCar drivers at the Daytona 24
GTP
Helio CastronevesMeyer Shank
Scott Dixon – Cadillac Racing
Colton Herta – BMW M Team RLL
Simon PagenaudMeyer Shank
LMP2
Scott McLaughlin – Tower Motorsport
Josef Newgarden – Tower Motorsport
Rinus VeeKay – TDS Racing
GTD
Romain Grosjean – Iron Lynx
Kyle Kirkwood – Vasser Sullivan
Thank you for your feedback signal!
