Rising Star Jacob Abel to Drive for Dale Coyne Racing in 2025 IndyCar Series
The world of IndyCar racing is welcoming a promising new talent, as 23-year-old Jacob Abel is set to become a full-time driver for Dale Coyne Racing in the upcoming 2025 season. Driving the No. 51 car, Abel is gearing up for his IndyCar debut on March 2 in St. Petersburg, Florida, in what is expected to be a defining moment in his burgeoning motorsport career.
Jacob Abel's journey to the IndyCar circuit has been marked by perseverance and a series of impressive performances in the feeder Indy NXT series over the past three years. The Kentucky native has honed his skills extensively, achieving three race wins and standing on the podium in 10 out of 14 races in the most recent season, underscoring his competitive prowess and adaptability on the track.
The decision by Dale Coyne Racing to enlist Abel as a full-time driver follows a period of extensive evaluation and consideration. "We have watched Jacob over the years and did an evaluation test with him at the end of the 2023 season, where he showed great promise in these cars," stated Dale Coyne, emphasizing the potential Abel demonstrated during his test at Sebring last fall.
In a strategic shift, Dale Coyne Racing has opted to run a single driver in the No. 51 car throughout the 2025 season, after employing multiple drivers in 2024. This move is aimed at enhancing consistency and focus within the team for achieving competitive success in the highly demanding NTT IndyCar Series. "It will be good to run one driver in the No. 51 car for the whole season, so we can work on the consistency needed," Coyne added.
Abel is not a newcomer to the racing world. His earlier racing endeavors saw him competing in various prestigious series, including Formula 3, Formula 4, and the Indy Pro 2000 series from 2019 to 2021. These experiences have provided him with a solid foundation upon which he aims to build a successful IndyCar career.
"I've had a great relationship with Dale for the last couple of years, and I'm very thankful for the confidence he has in me," Abel expressed, reflecting on his journey leading up to this announcement. He acknowledges the seasoned team of professionals supporting him at Dale Coyne Racing and is optimistic about the growth and learning opportunities that lie ahead. "The team has some very experienced personnel joining and returning to the program, and I have full confidence they will deliver a great race car and help me learn the ropes. It's going to be a fun but challenging journey, and I can't wait to get started," he said.
Before the St. Petersburg opener, Abel will intensify his preparations with testing scheduled at California’s Thermal Club in late January. This critical phase will allow him to fine-tune his driving dynamics and further acclimate to the intricacies of the IndyCar series, ensuring that he is in peak form come race day.
As the motorsport community eagerly anticipates Abel’s ascension to the IndyCar ranks, attention also remains on Dale Coyne Racing’s forthcoming announcement regarding their full-time driver for the No. 18 car. The synergy between Abel and his future teammate will be a pivotal element in the team’s overall strategy in tackling the 2025 season.
The inclusion of Abel reflects a fresh chapter for Dale Coyne Racing, symbolizing both a commitment to fostering young talent and a strategic push towards establishing a competitive edge in the seasons to come. As fans and pundits alike follow Abel’s progression, they do so with the promise of thrilling races and the hope of witnessing the rise of a motorsport star in the making.