The IndyCar grid has almost completely taken shape ahead of the 2025 season, with just a few teams yet to decide on their driver line-ups.
Chip Ganassi Racing confirmed their trio last week, with Scott Dixon and Kyffin Simpson remaining alongside reigning champion Alex Palou.
As we’ve seen in the past though, that doesn’t stop teams from testing out potential future suitors for a seat with them.
Andretti did the same thing for Jamie Chadwick with a test last month at Barber Motorsports Park, despite having no open seats within their IndyCar team.
Jacob Abel has ‘earned’ an IndyCar opportunity
The other team that joined them in testing that day was Chip Ganassi Racing, who gave rookie Felipe Drugovich a run in their car.
It was a success, and now they have decided to hand Indy NXT runner-up Jacob Abel an opportunity to prove his value at the Texas Motor Speedway on November 14.
Speaking to RACER, the team’s managing director Mike Hull discussed Abel’s potential and recent performance.
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“He’s earned an opportunity to drive an IndyCar, and his performance, not only last year in Indy NXT, but his performance throughout his career, shows that he’s able to separate himself from most people on the grid when he drives a race car.
“So what that means is he’s got an enormous amount of ability, and I spent some time with him and him and his dad this last year and got to know them, and was impressed with the amount of integrity Jacob has. Jacob will go a long way in motor racing. I don’t think there’s any question about that.
“When you’re Jacob’s age and you’re trying to get to the next level, you’re just looking for an opportunity to drive so you can show people the ability that you have, and we’re happy that it’s coming together for the test with us.”
Why Abel deserves an IndyCar chance
Abel was the standout performer in Indy NXT this season other than the eventual champion and new Rahal Letterman Lannigan driver Louis Foster.
He and Foster were the other two drivers to claim multiple victories, and both looked like the class of the field throughout most of the season.
Abel made it no secret that he was searching for an opportunity in IndyCar for 2025, but sadly that hasn’t materialised so far.
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Full-time drives are particularly hard to come by at the moment, and most outfits are on the lookout for drivers who can bring them a bit of extra funding.
The financial element can make the day-to-day running of a team far less stressful and is why pay drivers are often handed opportunities ahead of more talented individuals.