Jacob Abel, the young driver from Kentucky, has had a busy 2026 on the track, and he is now at a point to decide his next steps. After participating in an intense campaign in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Abel is looking to prepare for his return to the Indy 500 in 2027.
During his rookie season in the NTT IndyCar Series in 2025 with Dale Coyne Racing, Abel gained experience that has helped him tackle a very diversified 2026. He began competing with LMP2 machinery in the Asian Le Mans Series with Vector Sport before moving on to IMSA, where he achieved two podiums in five endurance races behind the wheel of Era Motorsport. The highlight of his season was his debut at the Indy 500 with Abel Motorsports, where he finished in 24th position.
Reflecting on such an intense year, Abel expressed his satisfaction with the various experiences he has had. ‘It has been a year very different from what I had experienced before. I have traveled the world, with races in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Daytona. The Indy 500 was undoubtedly the highlight,’ he commented.
Looking ahead to 2027, Abel acknowledges the need to reassess his approach. Although his experience in IndyCar was not entirely successful, his time in endurance racing has broadened his horizons. ‘I am trying to piece everything together and plan my next step. I really want to return to the Indy 500 as part of a team and with better preparation. This year was more about overcoming challenges,’ he concluded.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
