Antonio Garcia examined constructive for COVID-19 in some unspecified time in the future through the Rolex 24 at Daytona and was pulled from the successful Corvette Racing crew earlier than the endurance occasion concluded.

Normal Motors didn’t announce the Spaniard had examined constructive till after the race ended Sunday at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.

“As a part of worldwide COVID journey protocols, all drivers and crew members touring out and in of the U.S. are required to take a COVID check earlier than and after any race actions,” GM stated in an announcement. “Whereas Antonio Garcia examined unfavorable in preparation for his arrival for the Rolex 24, we have now obtained discover that he has now examined constructive in preparation to depart the nation.”

GM stated it pulled Garcia from the race Sunday morning. He had pushed almost eight hours earlier than GM realized he’d examined constructive.

Jordan Taylor and Nicky Catsburg completed the race to attain the GT Le Mans class victory. GM stated Garcia had no signs and the crew was permitted by IMSA to complete the race, which makes use of three and 4 drivers in a shared automotive.

“The sequence decided Corvette Racing met all circumstances below the IMSA occasion protocols that allowed it to compete in a secure and accountable method,” GM stated. “We now have notified crew members and others who had contact with Antonio and can conduct testing with racing crew members after 72 hours, per CDC pointers.”

IMSA is owned by NASCAR, which didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon Garcia’s in-race constructive check.

The Rolex 24 is the opening occasion of the North American motorsports season and NASCAR and IMSA held it with restricted spectators at Daytona. It was a check for the Daytona 500, which opens NASCAR’s season Feb. 14. The monitor opens to spectators and groups for the five hundred on Feb. 9.

NASCAR and IMSA don’t conduct COVID-19 exams for its contributors however function in a bubble of kinds.

Garcia, who’s 40, has three class wins within the 24 Hours of Le Mans and is a longtime Corvette manufacturing unit driver.