After topping the charts at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test Myles Rowe looks ahead to furthering his learning with ABEL Motorsports with Force Indy
Yuven Sundaramoorthy looking forward to Barber return after team scored first victory there in 2024
Callum Hedge will be back in an ABEL Motorsports car for the second off-season test
Jordan Missig continues his INDY NXT learning curve visiting Barber for the first time in an INDY NXT car
Speedway, Ind. (October 25, 2024) – Off-season work continues for ABEL Motorsports as the team makes their way south to the picturesque Barber Motorsports Park, the site of round 2 of the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone Championship and the team’s first INDY NXT win in 2024.
For Sundaramoorthy, the return to the Augusta of Motorsports provides him the chance to work on items he made note of when the series made their stop in Alabama back in April.
“Barber is an incredibly challenging track, not only to drive but also physically especially on the neck so getting to go there and test will be really beneficial as we think ahead to 2025,” exclaimed Sundaramoorthy.
Having a solid baseline setup to start from is crucial, and Sundaramoorthy knows he has that platform to work from after watching his teammate Jacob Abel win from pole in 2024.
“I know that I have some things driving wise I am going to be focusing on, but car wise I know we have a great starting point. Jacob (Abel) was super quick here last year and was able to win from pole, so I know the car can do it, I just need to put it all together.”
Callum Hedge makes the trip south with ABEL Motorsports for his second outing with the organization. Hedge was pleased with his time spent testing with ABEL at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and is excited to see what the No. 17 is capable of on a different circuit.
“I had a great first experience with ABEL Motorsports at the Chris Griffis test, and I’m really looking forward to what the ABEL car is able to do on a track like Barber,” said Hedge.
Hedge really took to the 2.38-mile circuit in Leeds Alabama, really enjoying the physical strain the track puts the drivers through.
“Barber is one of the most intense tracks we go to in terms of the physicality it takes to be quick there. You really have to work hard for your lap time here which makes putting it all together that much more rewarding, but can’t wait to get back in the car and keep going.”
After setting the pace in the first series test of the 2025 season, 24-year-old Myles Rowe, is right at home with his new ABEL Motorsports with Force Indy team.
“The test at the Speedway (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) was a great introduction to ABEL and everyone at ABEL Motorsports,” said Rowe.
Ending up at the top of the charts during their first test together was a great start, but Rowe knows that a continued focus on communication between driver & engineer is paramount to making sure the speed continues.
“I think Kent (Boyer) and I already have a pretty awesome working relationship but making sure that we continue to grow together and as a team will really be what carries that speed to different tracks. Barber really reminds me of when I started racing at the Atlanta Motorsports Park with all of the different elevation and hills, so I love Barber and am really looking forward to Monday.”
Continuing to grow accustomed to the INDY NXT car, Jordan Missig heads to Barber with a notebook of experience from the previous INDY NXT test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that saw him complete 84 laps.
“Indianapolis really helped get me back in the open-wheel mindset and not only that, but also getting a ton of laps in the car just really helped that learning curve and getting more and more comfortable with the Dallara IL-15,” said Missig.
While Barber Motorsports Park will be a new experience for the Joliet Illinois driver in an INDY NXT car, he knows his experience there in other formula cars will benefit him getting up to speed with the faster car.
“My overall approach to the track will be the same as it would be if I were here in a different type of car, but I will have to think about and work on understanding what the extra downforce, turbo power etc. does here, and how to optimize that.”
“I want to reach the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, that is my ultimate goal so to get there I need to be in INDY NXT and competing for a championship. That’s where I want to be in 2025, so we are working really hard towards that.”
The second off-season test for the INDY NXT by Firestone Series takes place at the Barber Motorsports Park on October 28 with updates from social media coming throughout the test at @abelmotorsports. The first race in the 2025 INDY NXT Championship takes place on March 2nd on the Downtown Streets of St. Petersburg Florida.
About ABEL Motorsports: Team principal Bill Abel began racing motocross in 1972, earning numerous championship titles as he continued the family racing tradition. In 2015, ABEL Motorsports was launched, starting in the USF2000 series and building up the junior open wheel ladder. The team captured the inaugural Formula Regional Americas Championship with driver Kyle Kirkwood in 2018.
ABEL Motorsports currently competes in the INDY NXT by Firestone series, the official development series for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, led by third-generation driver Jacob Abel. The team made its INDYCAR debut in 2023 with driver RC Enerson in the Indianapolis 500. For more information visit the official team website at abelmotorsports.com.
About Abel Construction Company: ABEL Construction is one of the largest general contractors in Kentucky, holding licenses in thirteen states. The company has offices in Lexington, Kentucky and Indianapolis, Indiana, with the corporate office in Louisville. Their expertise spans many areas, including general contracting, construction management, design-build, Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), and facilities maintenance.
Abel Construction has helped build some of the region’s most recognizable landmarks. Their projects cover diverse sectors, including automotive, healthcare, post-secondary education, commercial, food/beverage, tech, and industrial/manufacturing. They prioritize client satisfaction, focusing on efficient project delivery regardless of size or cost. The company’s skilled professionals utilize cutting-edge technology and software to ensure successful outcomes. abelconstruct.com/.