Abel, a 23-year-old from Kentucky, claimed victory in the Indy NXT race after fending off challenges from Nolan Siegel and completing all 35 laps around a 2.3-mile, 17-turn natural terrain road course. This marked Abel’s 30th start in Indy NXT, having previously finished second on three occasions.
Following Abel and Siegel, James Roe secured third place, with rookie Caio Collet and Louis Foster finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. The race, which ended under caution, saw Abel Motorsports’ Abel maintain a lead after the initial start was waved off, leading the field to the green flag on lap 2.
Abel got a clean start, leading ahead of Siegel’s HMD Motorsports entry and Roe’s Andretti Global car. Despite initial challenges, Abel held steady over Siegel during the race’s restart on lap 7. Foster, despite starting from 21st due to electrical issues, impressively climbed to 12th within the first four laps.
However, the race was halted on lap 5 when Yuven Sundaramoorthy, also racing for Abel Motorsports, stopped on the racetrack due to a mechanical issue, prompting the yellow flag. The subsequent restart saw Abel maintaining his lead, with Siegel closely trailing behind.
As the laps dwindled, Abel extended his lead over Siegel and Roe, while Foster continued his climb through the ranks. Chadwick, initially in contention, faced a setback when she spun out, bringing out the caution and ultimately securing Abel’s victory.
Despite Chadwick’s misfortune, Abel emerged victorious, securing his maiden Indy NXT win after a hard-fought race against strong competition. The race showcased Abel’s skill and determination as he successfully navigated challenges to claim the top spot on the podium.
