Jacob Abel (racing driver)

Last updated
Jacob Abel
Jacob abel (53167283924).jpg
Nationality Flag of the United States.svg American
Born (2001-03-09) March 9, 2001 (age 23)
Louisville, Kentucky,
United States
Indy Lights career
Debut season 2022
Current team Abel Motorsports
Car number51
Starts42
Championships0
Wins3
Podiums14
Poles4
Fastest laps3
Best finish2nd in 2024
Previous series
2017–18

2017–18

2019–21
2020–21

2021
2021
2021		 U.S. F2000 National Championship
Formula 4 United States Championship
Indy Pro 2000 Championship
Formula Regional Americas Championship
Stadium Super Trucks
IMSA SportsCar Championship
GT World Challenge America

Jacob Abel (born March 9, 2001) is an American racing driver who currently competes in the IndyCar Series driving the No. 51 Honda for Dale Coyne Racing. [1] He previously competed in Indy NXT for Abel Motorsports. [2] [3]

Contents

Career

Lower formulae

Abel began his senior racing career in 2017 at the age of 16, competing in the F4 United States Championship with Abel Motorsports. [4] The following season, Abel stepped back to a partial-season schedule in both the F4 United States Championship [5] and the new-for-2018 F3 Americas Championship. [6] Abel would score four podiums in his opening season in F3, en route to a fourth place championship finish. He took his first win in the series early the following season, scoring back-to-back victories at Road Atlanta. [7]

In 2023, Abel stepped outside of North America for the first time in his racing career, taking part in the 2023 Formula Regional Oceania Championship with Kiwi Motorsport. [8] [9] He claimed four podium finishes, completing the season with a third-place championship finish. He returned to the series in 2024, making his first appearance during Round 4 at Euromarque Motorsport Park. [10]

Road to Indy

Abel in practice for the Indy NXT race at Mid-Ohio in 2024 Jacob Abel Mid Ohio 2024.jpg
Abel in practice for the Indy NXT race at Mid-Ohio in 2024

Abel made his Road to Indy debut in July 2017 at Mid-Ohio, driving for Newman Wachs Racing. [11] After a part-time schedule in the series for 2018, Abel stepped up to the Indy Pro 2000 Championship in 2019. [12] His opening season in the championship was quiet, as he finished 9th overall with no podiums and two top fives. He would compete in just seven races in 2020 to supplement a full-season drive in the Formula Regional Americas Championship, scoring his first Indy Pro 2000 podium at Mid-Ohio that September. For 2021, Abel committed to a full-time schedule in Indy Pro 2000. [13] Claiming two podiums, one each at Road America and Mid-Ohio, Abel finished his first full season sixth in the standings. For 2022, Abel stepped up to Indy Lights, once again with Abel Motorsports. [14] He finished eighth in the championship during his rookie season, finishing as high as fourth at Portland and Laguna Seca. For 2023, Abel returned to the series. [2] He scored his first series podium in the opening race of the season at St. Petersburg, leading 27 of 40 laps before dropping to third on a late restart. [15] He would finish a season-high second at Road America and Iowa (where he claimed pole [16] ), finishing fifth in the championship. In November 2023, Abel embarked on an IndyCar test with Dale Coyne Racing. [17]

Abel and his family's team returned for his third year in the series in 2024. [18] Following a second place at the season-opener in St. Petersburg, Abel took pole at Barber, from where he led every lap to take his first victory in the category. [19] [20] Abel followed that up with another lights-to-flag victory at Indianapolis, [21] and claimed his third and final race win of the season later in the year at Portland. [22] Abel finished the 2024 season second in the championship, with a career-high three wins, ten podiums, and three pole positions.

Sports cars

In March 2021, Abel was announced as part of HPD's 2021 Junior Factory Lineup. [23] As a result, Abel would compete part-time with Racers Edge Motorsports in the GT World Challenge America. [24] Later that season, Abel joined Compass Racing for the IMSA SportsCar Championship event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, substituting for Jeff Kingsley. [25] [26] The following weekend, Abel scored his first class victory in GT3 machinery in race #1 of the GT World Challenge America event at Watkins Glen. [27]

Stadium Super Trucks

In August 2021, Abel made his Stadium Super Trucks debut at the Music City Grand Prix, where he drove a truck sponsored by Crosley Brands. [28] He finished runner-up in the second and final race of the weekend. [29]

IndyCar Series

In November 2024, Abel took part in an IndyCar test at Texas Motor Speedway, driving with Chip Ganassi Racing. [30] During the test, Abel made a strong impression on Ganassi's managing director Mike Hull, who advocated for Abel to land a seat in the series for 2025. [31] On January 13, 2025, it was announced that Abel would make the step up to the NTT IndyCar Series to compete full time in the No. 51 Honda for Dale Coyne Racing. [1]

Personal life

A graduate of Trinity High School in Louisville, [32] Abel attended college part-time at Butler University while pursuing his racing career. [33] A marketing major, Abel stated that his education helped him understand the financial and business aspects of motorsports. [34]

Racing record

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition
2017 Formula 4 United States Championship Abel Motorsports 190000924th
U.S. F2000 National Championship Newman Wachs Racing 200001431st
2018 F3 Americas Championship Abel Motorsports 1100041244th
Formula 4 United States Championship 1200002415th
U.S. F2000 National Championship 500004723rd
2019 F3 Americas Championship Abel Motorsports 1120381554th
Indy Pro 2000 Championship 1400001989th
2020 Formula Regional Americas Championship Abel Motorsports 1700011335th
Indy Pro 2000 Championship 7000110714th
2021 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Abel Motorsports 1800322926th
Formula Regional Americas Championship Newman Wachs Racing 310124313th
Stadium Super Trucks Crosley Brands 300013914th
GT World Challenge America - Pro-Am Racers Edge Motorsports610026614th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Compass Racing 1000020465th
2022 Indy Lights Abel Motorsports 1400003558th
2023 Formula Regional Oceania Championship Kiwi Motorsport1500042653rd
Indy NXT Abel Motorsports 1401043975th
2024 Indy NXT Abel Motorsports 14333105172nd
Formula Regional Oceania Championship mtec Motorsport6000111813th
2025 IndyCar Series Dale Coyne Racing

* Season still in progress.

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

YearTeamClassMakeEngine123456789101112RankPoints
2021 Compass Racing GTD Acura NSX GT3 Evo Acura 3.5 L Turbo V6 DAY SEB MDO DET WGL WGL LIM ELK LGA
13		 LBH VIR PET 65th204

Stadium Super Trucks

(key) (Bold – Pole position. Italics – Fastest qualifier. * – Most laps led.)

Stadium Super Trucks results
Year12345678910SSTCPtsRef
2021 STP STP MOH MOH MOH MOH NSH
12		 NSH
2		 LBH
13		 LBH
DNS		14th39 [35]

Complete Formula Regional Oceania Championship Results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeam123456789101112131415DCPoints
2023 Kiwi Motorsport HIG
1
6		 HIG
2
2		 HIG
3
6		 TER
1
3		 TER
2
6		 TER
3
5		 MAN
1
3		 MAN
2
4		 MAN
3
4		 HMP
1
7		 HMP
2
2		 HMP
3
8		 TAU
1
Ret		 TAU
2
9		 TAU
3
6		3rd265
2024 mtec Motorsport TAU
1
TAU
2
TAU
3
MAN
1
MAN
2
MAN
3
HMP
1
HMP
2
HMP
3
CHR
1
3		 CHR
2
7		 CHR
3
5		 HIG
1
5		 HIG
2
4		 HIG
3
4		13th118

American open–wheel racing results

U.S. F2000 National Championship

YearTeam1234567891011121314RankPoints
2017 Newman Wachs Racing STP STP BAR BAR IMS IMS ROA ROA IOW TOR TOR MDO
16		 MDO
13		 WGL 31st14
2018 Abel Motorsports STP STP IMS IMS LOR ROA
15		 ROA
10		 TOR TOR MDO
11		 MDO
11		 MDO
11		 POR POR 23rd47

Indy Pro 2000 Championship

YearTeam123456789101112131415161718RankPoints
2019 Abel Motorsports STP
9		 STP
11		 IMS
6		 IMS
7		 LOR
5		 ROA ROA TOR
6		 TOR
7		 MDO
12		 MDO
10		 GTW
12		 POR
7		 POR
8		 LAG
7		 LAG
5		9th198
2020 ROA ROA MOH MOH MOH LOR
12		 GMP
10		 IMS IMS IMS MDO
7		 MDO
3		 NJM
9		 NJM
6		 NJM
8		 STP STP 14th107
2021 ALA
8		 ALA
5		 STP
15		 STP
7		 IMS
6		 IMS
7		 IMS
13		 LOR
6		 ROA
3		 ROA
5		 MOH
3		 MOH
6		 GMP
6		 NJM
5		 NJM
5		 NJM
4		 MOH
6		 MOH
9		6th292

Indy NXT

YearTeam1234567891011121314RankPoints
2022 Abel Motorsports STP
10		 BAR
6		 IMS
8		 IMS
5		 DET
14		 DET
12		 RDA
5		 MDO
11		 IOW
6		 NSH
9		 GMP
7		 POR
4		 LAG
4		 LAG
5		8th355
2023 STP
3*		 BAR
16		 IMS
9		 DET
4		 DET
9		 RDA
2		 MDO
6		 IOW
2L		 NSH
3		 IMS
4		 GMP
4		 POR
16		 LAG
14		 LAG
5		5th397
2024 STP
2		 BAR
1*		 IMS
1*		 IMS
2		 DET
5		 RDA
3		 LAG
3		 LAG
11		 MDO
3		 IOW
15		 GMP
2		 POR
1*		 MIL
2		 NSH
8		2nd517

* Season still in progress.

IndyCar Series

(key)

YearTeamChassisNo.Engine1234567891011121314151617RankPointsRef
2025 Dale Coyne Racing Dallara DW12 51 Chevrolet STP

THE

LBH

ALA

IMS

INDY

DET

GTW

ROA

MDO

IOW

IOW

TOR

LAG

POR

MIL

NSH

-0 [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Coyne signs Abel for full IndyCar season". RACER. 2025-01-13. Retrieved 2025-01-13.
  2. 1 2 DeHarde, Christopher (October 24, 2022). "Jacob Abel Returns to Indy Lights in 2023 with Abel Motorsports". Toby Christie. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Jacob Abel". indycar.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  4. ↑ "IndyCar Connection Runs Deep In New F4 U.S. Championship Team". f4uschampionship.com. March 23, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Early Season F4 U.S. Entries Surpass Expectations; Abel Motorsports Confirms 2018 Roster". f4uschampionship.com. February 23, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Dominant F3 Team Expands, Seeks Seventh Straight Win". framericas.com. September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  7. ↑ Wood, Ida (April 21, 2019). "Jacob Abel floats to F3 Americas success at Road Atlanta". formulascout.com. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Indy Nxt racer more than Abel to succeed in Formula Regional Oceania". Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand. January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  9. ↑ Wood, Ida (January 4, 2023). "Indy Nxt's Jacob Abel to do FRegional Oceania". Formula Scout. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Battle between the aces on the cards for Christchurch". Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand. February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024. Jacob Abel... makes a welcome return to New Zealand for the final two rounds of 2024...
  11. ↑ "NEWMAN WACHS RACING ADDS ABEL TO MID-OHIO LINEUP". usf2000.com. July 21, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  12. ↑ "ABEL MOTORSPORTS TO JOIN THE ROAD TO INDY IN 2019". indypro2000.com. November 7, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  13. ↑ Wood, Ida (January 9, 2021). "Jacob Abel commits to a full-time season in Indy Pro 2000". formulascout.com. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Jacob Abel, Abel Motorsports advance to Indy Lights". racer.com. December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  15. ↑ Malsher-Lopez, David (March 5, 2023). "St. Pete Indy NXT: Frost snatches great opportunist win". Motorsport.com . Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  16. ↑ Waring, Bethonie (July 22, 2023). "Abel takes maiden pole in Indy Nxt's first oval qualifying of 2023". Formula Scout. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  17. ↑ Pruett, Marshall (November 3, 2023). "Abel looks ahead to IndyCar test debut with Coyne". Racer . Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  18. ↑ Barnes, Joey (November 10, 2023). "Jacob Abel back with family team for 2024 Indy NXT campaign". Motorsport.com . Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Abel Earns First Career Victory after Perfect Weekend - Speedway Digest - Home for NASCAR News". 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  20. ↑ "Abel completes perfect weekend, dominating Indy NXT at Barber". RACER. 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  21. ↑ "Abel powers to flag-to-flag Indy NXT win at Indy GP". Racer . May 10, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Abel clings to Indy NXT title hopes with Portland victory". Racer . August 25, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Honda Performance Development Announces 2021 HPD Factory Driver Lineup". hondanews.com. March 2, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  24. ↑ "HPD GT3 Academy Graduates in Racers Edge Acura". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. February 9, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Abel to Sub for Kingsley in Compass Acura at Laguna Seca". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Abel gets Acura Monterey call-up by Compass". racer.com. September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  27. ↑ Dagys, John (September 18, 2021). "Pepper, Caldarelli Dominate Race 1 at The Glen". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved December 5, 2021. Abel held off a hard-charging Matt McMurry for his first sports car racing victory after Hagler scored top class honors at Road America with Dakota Dickerson.
  28. ↑ Nguyen, Justin (August 4, 2021). "Jacob Abel to make SST debut at Nashville for Crosley". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  29. ↑ Organ, Mike (August 8, 2021). "Marcus Ericsson wins IndyCar Music City Grand Prix". The Tennessean . Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  30. ↑ Pruett, Marshall (November 11, 2024). "Abel gets IndyCar test with Ganassi". Racer . Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  31. ↑ Pruett, Marshall (January 13, 2025). "Coyne signs Abel for full IndyCar season". Racer . Retrieved January 15, 2025. [Abel] recently tested for Chip Ganassi Racing... and made a strong impression on its managing director Mike Hull, who openly advocated for the Butler University graduate to land an IndyCar drive.
  32. ↑ Chernoff, Andrew (August 9, 2022). "Racing is a family affair for driver Jacob Abel". WLKY. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  33. ↑ Cavin, Curt (September 8, 2022). "Abel Works Hard to Balance Books, Blossoming Racing Career". IndyCar. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  34. ↑ Horrall, Zach (December 13, 2021). "Abel Gets Down to Business with Dual Roles as Driver, Student". IndyCar. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  35. ↑ "2021 Overall Point Standings". Stadium Super Trucks . Retrieved December 9, 2021.
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