LEXINGTON, Ky. - First-year Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires team Abel Motorsports of Louisville, KY, has faced many tough tests in its inaugural year in Road to Indy competition. The team has scored its first two victories, and has notched a series of podium, top-five, and top-ten finishes. Now, with just three race weekends remaining in the 2019 season, the Abel Motorsports squad is planning to finish strong, with the season championship still within reach.
“We had a really good test at World Wide Technology Raceway with the series last week,” noted team principal Bill Abel. “Both cars were reasonably quick all day, and we accomplished what we needed to in terms of setups for the event. This is a unique race, 55 laps on a mile and a quarter speedway, one of our longest races in distance this year. We’re excited about the weekend and the challenge.”
Drivers Jacob Abel and Parker Thompson are both primed for success this week as well at the St. Louis, MO area oval. Abel qualified fifth and finished fifth in his first-ever oval start earlier this season at Lucas Oil Raceway in suburban Indianapolis. Abel currently is 10th in the Indy Pro 2000 Championship. His teammate, Thompson, from Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, has two victories on the season and is currently 3rd in the Championship, just 48 points out of the lead. While both Abel and Thompson struggled in the team’s most recent outing at Mid-Ohio, Thompson has plenty of confidence coming into the WWTR event.
“This race presents a huge opportunity for all of us at Abel Motorsports,” commented Thompson. “We were very competitive on the oval at Lucas Oil Raceway earlier this year. I think we can showcase that again this weekend. Everyone who’s a part of Abel Motorsports has been working hard to make sure we’re ready for battle. I’m looking forward to turning left again in a few short days!”
As for the 18-year-old Abel, it’s been a busy summer indeed. He’s graduated from high school, has been working as a driving instructor at the Mid-Ohio School, recently completed his first sports car test for Acura Motorsports and HPD in an NSX-GT3 Evo, and this week, is moving into his dorm at Indiana’s Butler University to begin his college studies. Now, the first-year Road to Indy competitor looks to contend for his first podium in Indy Pro 2000 action. With three event weekends and five more starts ahead in 2019, this could be his time to shine.
The Abel Motorsports cars and drivers will practice and qualify Friday, and race Saturday afternoon at World Wide Technology Raceway.