"It’s a lifelong dream come true”: Jacob Abel makes feelings known after landing 2025 INDYCAR seat with Dale Coyne Racing

Open wheel racing driver Jacob Abel was announced by Dale Coyne Racing as one of their two drivers on January 13, 2025, for the 2025 IndyCar season. Abel previously drove in the IndyCar ladder series, Indy NXT, and has been promoted to the pinnacle of American open-wheel racing for the upcoming season.

Abel drove for his family-owned Abel Motorsports team in the Indy NXT championship for the 2024 season. The American won three races during the 2024 Indy NXT season and stood on the podium 10 times in 14 races.

After an impressive season where he finished runner-up in the championship, DCR gave Abel the opportunity to showcase his talent in the big leagues. Speaking about the move to Dale Coyne Racing, Jabob Abel said (via IndyCar):

“It’s a lifelong dream come true. I can’t thank everyone who’s helped out along the way enough. 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.

“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 of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. It’s going to be a fun but challenging journey, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Abel began his professional motorsport career in 2017 as he participated in the US F4 championship. He spent the next two years in the F3 American championship along with joining the Indy Pro 2000 championship in 2019.

The 2025 DCR driver raced in a multitude of championships in the next couple of years which included FRECA, IMSA and the Indy Pro 2000 championship. Abel made the move to Indy Lights (now Indy NXT) in 2022 as he raced for Abel Motorsports.

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“He showed great promise”: Dale Coyne Racing owner on why he signed Jacob Abel

Jacob Abel will be driving the #51 Honda-powered entry for the entirety of the upcoming season as he's signed as a full-time driver. The #51 car was driven by six different drivers during the 2024 IndyCar season including the likes of Nolan Siegel and Katherine Legge.

AUTO: MAR 05 INDYNXT Series Streets of St. Petersburg - Source: Getty

Abel participated in the IndyCar test with DCR in 2023 and since then, the team owner has kept his eye on the young talent. As Abel signed with DCR, owner Dale Coyne said (via IndyCar):

“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. It will be good to run one driver in the No. 51 car for the whole season so that we can work on the consistency needed in the highly competitive NTT INDYCAR SERIES.”

The other Dale Coyne Racing seat is now the only seat left to be filled for the 2025 IndyCar season. The DCR owner said that the driver will be finalized within the next three weeks.