Jacob Abel returns to Indy 500 with Abel Motorsports

Abel Motorsports announced that Jacob Abel will drive for the team in this year's Indianapolis 500. Abel, the son of Abel Motorsports founder and owner Bill Abel, will drive the No. 51 Chevrolet for the team.

This will be Abel's second year attempting to qualify for the Indy 500. Last year, Abel was the lone driver bumped from the race, as his qualifying attempt with Dale Coyne Racing fell short. Abel drove for DCR all season, finishing 27th in the driver standings as a rookie. Abel was dropped by DCR at the conclusion of the season and is driving in the endurance rounds of the IMSA Sportscar Championship with Era Motorsport this year.

This will be the second Indy 500 attempt for Abel Motorsports, which races full-time in Indy NXT, IndyCar's support series. R.C. Enerson drove the No. 50 car for the team in the 2023 Indy 500, finishing 32nd. Abel Construction Company, a Louisville business for which Bill Abel is the CEO, is the primary sponsor for the entry.

“I am excited and grateful to be able to return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to have a shot at the Indianapolis 500," Abel said in a news release. "It’s been a lifelong dream to compete in that race and to have the opportunity to do it with Abel Motorsports and Chevrolet makes it even more special.

"The Indianapolis 500 is the greatest race in the world and the teams that compete reflect that. Having won races and competed for championships with Abel Motorsports over my whole career, I am very confident in the program that they put together.”

The starting grid is now up to 32 entries for this year's race, as the field is still an entry short of the necessary 33. A.J. Foyt Racing and Prema Racing (which is searching for new ownership) appear to be the most likely candidates to add a car to get the entry total to and above 33 cars.