Abel Motorsports Withdraws from Indy 500 to Support Son's Rookie Run
Bill Abel's Abel Motorsports won't enter the 2025 Indianapolis 500, choosing instead to focus on supporting his son Jacob Abel's rookie attempt with Dale Coyne Racing.
RC Enerson racing car during practice
The team, which made its IndyCar debut at the 2023 Indy 500 with RC Enerson, will convert its unused Chevrolet-powered chassis to Honda specification to serve as a potential backup car for Jacob at Dale Coyne Racing.
This decision comes after witnessing Dale Coyne rookie Nolan Siegel's struggles in 2024, when he was bumped from qualification after crashing and using a non-optimized backup car. With at least 34 entries expected for the 33 starting positions in 2025, having a properly prepared backup car could prove crucial.
"Jacob is our priority and supporting him as a family is what we want to do in his first time there for the 500," Bill Abel explained. The team's focus will be on preparing their chassis with all necessary aerodynamic and mechanical improvements for potential use in May, despite receiving interest from other drivers seeking an entry.
The team's previous Indy 500 car has been sold to PREMA Racing, while their current chassis is being fully prepared with updated body fitting and components to ensure competitiveness if needed as a backup for Jacob's rookie attempt.