The 32nd entry for this year’s Indianapolis 500 is going to come from Abel Motorsports and driver Jacob Abel, the team announced on Monday morning.
The Indianapolis- based team returns to the 500 for the first time in three years when they fielded an entry for RC Enerson in 2023. Abel will look to make his debut in the race after being bumped in 2025 while driving for Dale Coyne Racing. The team will be backed by Chevrolet and sport the No.51.
“I am excited and grateful to be able to return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to have a shot at the Indianapolis 500,” Abel said. “It’s been a lifelong dream to compete in that race and to have the opportunity to do it with Abel Motorsports and Chevrolet makes it even more special.
“The Indianapolis 500 is the greatest race in the world and the teams that compete reflect that. Having won races and competed for championships with Abel Motorsports over my whole career, I am very confident in the program that they put together.
“It is going to be amazing to share this experience with not only my actual family, but the team that has become my family over the years. The preparations have been ongoing for some time, and I’m eager to finally get on track.”
Abel Motorsports has applied their trade in the IndyCar ladder system, starting in USF2000 and now residing in the Indy NXT by Firestone Series, the step below IndyCar. Competing in the “500” again for Team Owner Bill Abel is a full circle moment, especially getting to compete with his son as the driver.
“We’re all beyond excited to have Jacob back with us at Abel Motorsports and ecstatic to be returning to the Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” stated Team Owner Bill Abel via press release. “It takes a lot of special people to make this happen, and I can’t thank Chevrolet and INDYCAR enough for their help and belief in bringing this to life.
“We have a tremendous group at Abel Motorsports, with a lot of NTT INDYCAR SERIES experience and we really feel like we are in a great spot to give Jacob everything he needs. To have the opportunity to compete in the Indianapolis 500 in 2023 with RC Enerson was so cool and I’ll never forget the moment immediately after we qualified and put RC in the show… it was really emotional and special to me. Now, to have the opportunity to come back here with Jacob as our driver, it doesn’t get any better than that!”
With the Abel entry now confirmed, only one more car/driver combination is left to be announced for the 110th Indianapolis 500. Though unconfirmed, a Kathrine Legge/ A.J. Foyt Racing entry with e.l.f sponsorship is set to complete the 33-car field.