Rookie Season Review: Jacob Abel’s Challenges in IndyCar
Jacob Abel’s inaugural season in IndyCar in 2025 proved to be tumultuous, contrasting sharply with his promising run in Indy NXT, where he finished second in the championship behind Louis Foster after clinching three victories.
While Foster transitioned to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and secured the Rookie of the Year title with a 23rd-place finish in the standings, Abel struggled with Dale Coyne Racing, ending his season 27th amid significant challenges.
In an interview with RACER, Abel reflected on the hurdles faced throughout the year, stating, “It would be an honor to get back with Dale and do a second season because IndyCar is where I want to be.” He acknowledged that the exposure of being in the spotlight heightened the stakes during his struggles.
Abel highlighted issues that prevented him from achieving consistency: “It was hard to get momentum going. As soon as we would start to roll, something would happen. It felt like we were under a dark, stormy cloud.” Key setbacks included failing to qualify for the Indianapolis 500, while his teammate, Rinus VeeKay, made the cut. This event notably shook his confidence.
Despite these setbacks, Abel remains optimistic about his potential, underscoring the necessary introspection and improvements made during the offseason: “There were still a lot of things that I can improve on… It was tough to manage the emotional side of racing. I’ve been having a reset, mentally, which I think is going to do just as much good.”
Looking ahead, Abel’s future in IndyCar hinges on securing a second season with Coyne, who recently signed 2025 Indy NXT champion Dennis Hauger in partnership with Andretti Global. Abel seeks to demonstrate the capabilities he showcased in his junior series and to avoid becoming yet another fleeting rookie story in the competitive landscape of IndyCar racing.
