Photo: James Black
Indy Nxt team Cape Motorsports has withdrawn from this weekend’s round at the Gateway oval.
This year is the team’s first in IndyCar’s primary support series, and skipping the upcoming race means Cape will go into 2024 having only made one start on an oval at this level of single-seaters.
Having started the current season with two cars piloted by rookies Enaam Ahmed and Jagger Jones, Cape made a change to its line-up after seven races, with Ahmed leaving. Jones was the team’s only driver at Iowa Speedway, then series veteran Matthew Brabham stepped into the #47 car previously driven by Ahmed for the street race in Nashville.
Last time out at Indianapolis Motor Speedway the team called upon USF Pro 2000 title contender Kiko Porto to pilot the #47, but he was not available this weekend due to a clashing USFP2000 round at COTA while Brabham had already been snapped up by rival team Juncos Hollinger Racing.
“Cape Motorsports has made the decision not to compete in this weekend’s Indy Nxt [race] at World Wide Technology Raceway,” said Cape in a team statement.
“Two factors came into play leading up to the team’s decision: a lack of funding, and the lack of track time.
“The Cape team had only three hours on track at the June series test to compile an information database base for the tricky 1.25-mile oval. With the belief that this is not enough time for either driver or team, the team has chosen to redirect their assets and focus to the race in Portland, and the double-header season finale at Laguna Seca.
“Jagger Jones will be back with the team at Portland and Laguna Seca, with Kiko Porto also on board at Laguna Seca.”
Team owners Dominic and Nicholas Cape added: “We believe that discretion is the better part of valor here. We are disappointed to miss the weekend but know we will come out swinging to end the season.”