Photo: Jacob Abel
Jacob Abel and Hunter McElrea have recently done IndyCar tests as they seek to impress teams and earn race outings in 2025.
Chip Ganassi Racing ran Abel at Texas Motor Speedway on November 13, and six days later McElrea drove for Ed Carpenter Racing in the group test at The Thermal Club.
Abel came 13th in Formula Regional Oceania and then second in Indy Nxt this year, winning three races in IndyCar’s primary feeder series.
“Anytime you get in a race car and have the ability to prove yourself to some of the biggest, most important names in the sport, there’s always a little bit of pressure attached to that,” Abel said of his test call-up with Ganassi.
“But I think that’s something that I personally thrive under, and it’s something that I really embrace and want to succeed more than ever when in those big pressure situations.”
He added: “[In advance I was] working with the team, being in the shop for the weeks leading up to it and getting all of the knowledge I can from races in the past there [as Texas] and all things like that. Just utilising all the resources that they have at their disposal made it super easy to get up to speed quickly.
“I just really wanted to deliver to the team everything that that they wanted to get out of me because they did give me such a such an awesome opportunity.”
A week before his Texas run, which totaled nearly 250 laps of the 1.5-mile oval, Abel tested with Dale Coyne Racing at Sebring.
“I think days like Wednesday just motivate me to work even harder to get back in the seat,” Abel said. “I feel like I did a really good job. The team and everyone around me told me I did a very good job. But at the end of the day, if I’m not in the seat to be able to prove that to the rest of the world, it doesn’t really matter.
“I think I am ready for that step. Anytime I get a taste of IndyCar, it just motivates me even more to work harder out of the seat, to put something together, to hopefully make the step up next year for a full season.”
McElrea was second fastest in IndyCar’s group test, only behind former Formula 1 driver and three-time IMSA champion Felipe Nasr.
“Back in IndyCar!” an elated McElrea said afterwards. “Mega day, thank you so much to ECR for the opportunity. Car was fast, P1 in the AM session and P2 overall. Had so much fun! Hopefully not too long until next time.”
The Kiwi was the 2023 Indy Nxt runner-up and made his IndyCar debut with Coyne in Toronto this year. He is pursuing further outings for 2025.
His primary programme through 2024 was IMSA, where he came 18th in the LMP2 class with with TDS Racing. He won two races, and has been retained by the team for 2025.