SEBRING, Fla.  Its been just over 12 months since Josef Newgarden last sat in a sports car. Its been just over 12 days for Scott McLaughlin.

Although neither will race in this years Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, they spent north of 12 hours this week banking valuable laps and information to help Porsche Penske Motorsport prepare for the event as part of the IMSA-sanctioned test at Sebring Intl Raceway.

Newgarden, who shared the 2024 Rolex 24 At Daytona-winning No. 7 Porsche 963 with Felipe Nasr, Dane Cameron and Matt Campbell, made his first IMSA appearance since that point as a part of this weeks IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship test.

The two-time reigning Indianapolis 500 winner is back in the No. 7 car this time around, but the lineup is different as he joins this years Rolex 24-winning trio of Nasr, Nick Tandy and Laurens Vanthoor.

You can see even in 12 months how much progress this team has made, evidenced by what you saw in Daytona, Newgarden said after doing a few familiarization laps in the morning session. It was fun to watch. Im always cheering this group on, and theyre chipping away every single weekend.

McLaughlins sports car landscape is much more recent. He was back at this years Rolex 24 to cap off the month of January, sharing the Grand Touring Daytona Pro class No. 91 Trackhouse by TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R with Shane van Gisbergen, Connor Zilisch and Ben Keating.

The New Zealander is enjoying a first this week, with his first laps in the Porsche 963. Its a fitting track for McLaughlin to do so, as he also had his first ever IndyCar test at Sebring five years ago and was part of the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class-winning lineup in the 2023 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring with Tower Motorsport. McLaughlin is alongside the No. 6 trio of Mathieu Jaminet, Matt Campbell and Kevin Estre.

Ill tell you this thing rides a lot better than the P2 car does, McLaughlin laughed after completing his first 10-plus laps Thursday morning. Ive had some great times here at Sebring. The P2 was a lot of fun. This race is a lot of fun. Theres no plan beyond this test; Im not coming here to race with these guys. Its more of a chance to drive something.

Its my first time in the Porsche. Ive heard a lot about it. Ive spoken to Matty (Campbell) a number of times. Hes from Australia, so were sort of in the same realm there and Im from Down Under. Its cool to share a car with him and learn from him.

Both drivers have had limited track time in any series all offseason. An IndyCar test next week on Sebrings short course gives both drivers a chance to resume their full-time duties and re-stretch their muscles.

Any laps are helpful, but this team is pretty dialed in, Newgarden said. Its about trying to get them data for when they come back for the 12-hour and get reacclimated myself.

McLaughlin added, Its huge for me before my season to get some laps in, get the neck going. Im taking it lap-by-lap and enjoying it.

Campbell posted the fastest lap in Thursdays first of two sessions, at 1 minute, 48.215 seconds (124.418 mph) around Sebrings 3.74-mile, 17-turn circuit, which held as the fastest lap of the day.

The No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V-Series.R was second at 1:48.576 ahead of the No. 7 Penske Porsche in third at 1:48.713.

The Rolex 24 At Daytona-winning No. 22 United Autosports USA ORECA LMP2 07 led the Le Mans Prototype 2 class, with Paul Di Resta lapping in 1:49.957 in the morning session. That also stood as the days fastest lap in class.

Nineteen of 20 prototypes between the two classes participated on Thursday. The only one which didnt was the No. 63 Automobili Lamborghini Squadra Corse Lamborghini SC63, which retired early from the test due to an issue discovered during Wednesdays sessions.