FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Speedway, Ind. (May 17, 2022) – A wild Indy Lights Grand Prix of Indianapolis at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, gives Abel Motorsports and Butler University student Jacob Abel their first top-five finish of the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Championship.
Series rookie, Jacob Abel, has had two prior test sessions in an Indy Lights car on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Both tests saw Abel running very competitive times and winding up around the top-five. The weekend started off strong with Abel setting quicker and quicker lap times each time he took to the track. Ultimately Abel wound up qualifying 9th for race 1.
Abel settled into race 1 as best as he could, with early cautions coming out for the leaders getting together. From there, Abel continued to run his race and bring the No. 51 home in 8th. Race 2 was anything but predictable. At the opening of the race, Abel got together with Sting Ray Robb, causing Abel to have to pit for a new front wing. After a quick stop by the Abel Motorsports crew, Jacob rejoined the race without losing a lap. The skies then opened up with rain and lightning and brought a quick stop to the race, and ultimately a delayed restart until later in the day. Upon the races resumption, the weather was holding off but the wet track was still very prevalent. Abel restarted the race in 14th, and from their put on a stellar drive picking cars off one by one until the checkered flag. Abel recorded his best finish so far of the season, and the best result so far for Abel Motorsports in Indy Lights.
“What an awesome weekend for me and my Abel Motorsports guys. There is nothing like racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and to get our best result so far of the season here seems very fitting. We’ve been quick in testing all year but just haven’t been able to translate it to the race weekends, so it felt great to show some of what this team is capable of. Now we are getting into the bulk of the season, and I can’t wait to keep learning and keep building up our notebook,” said Jacob Abel.
After an 8-year hiatus, Ryan Phinny made his return to the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Championship with Abel Motorsports. The theme of the weekend for Phinny was constant improvement, and Phinny delieverd on that. Each session out on track Phinny was able to shake the rust off and cut his lap times down closer to the leaders. Phinny and his No. 61 Dallara IL-15 ended up qualifying 14th with his mindset focused on working on his racecraft.
Race 1 was disappointing for Phinny, as an unfortunate bit of contact resulted in a damaged front wing. The damage caused Phinny to nurse the car home in 14th. With a new front wing for race 2, and a bit of racing under his belt, Phinny was excited to continue his learning curve. Ryan was able to continue running faster and faster laps, all while avoiding the chaos and incidents in the rain to bring him a 12th place finish in race 2.
“My biggest take away from this past weekend was the needed seat time and the progress we were able to make. It’s no secret that prior to this past weekend it had been a while since my last outing, so while my results weren’t exactly what I was hoping for, the data showed that each lap was faster than the previous every session. It also would’ve been nice to have had the opportunity to at least test this car in the rain, like all my competitors had the chance to. It was definitely a hockey stick learning curve, but I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity from my sponsors and the crew at Abel motorsports,” said Ryan Phinny.
Next stop for the Abel Motorsports team on the 2022 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Championship is the double-header at the Raceway at Bell Isle Park on June 3rd-4th. Keep up with all things Abel Motorsports by following the team on social media @abelmotorsports.
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Abel Motorsports including team Principal, Bill Abel, has been competing since 1972. Abel Motorsports is now on to the third generation with Jacob Abel being the flagship driver for the team. The team was able to capture the inaugural F3 Americas Championship in 2018, and currently competes in the top rung of the Road to Indy ladder, the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Championship. For more information visit the official team website at: www.abelmotorsports.com
Media Contact:
Jacob Donahue
- Email: Jacobdonahue47@yahoo.com