ABEL Motorsports trio ready for the penultimate INDY NXT weekend - Speedway Digest

Jacob Abel has one goal at this weekend’s INDY NXT by Firestone Milwaukee 100 at the famed Milwaukee Mile: win – and take the championship title to the season finale.

For teammates Yuven Sundaramoorthy and Taylor Ferns, the aim is also simple – continue to master the art of racing the INDY NXT car on an oval.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT last raced on the Milwaukee Mile – the oldest operating speedway in the country – in 2015, but both series conducted tests at the track last June. All three ABEL Motorsports drivers were able to start the process of learning the track’s intricacies, which include wide straights and limited banking (9.25° in the turns.)

For Abel (Louisville, Ky.), coming off the win at Portland and having set times among the leaders at the test, the confidence is high going into the oval event weekend.

“We feel really strong about Milwaukee,” said Abel, who is 79 points off the championship points lead. “We were probably the strongest car all day at the test, so I feel as though that’s been one of the races that I feel most confident about going into this year. I think the racing will be interesting, because it’s unlike any oval we’ve ever driven before. With no banking, it’s almost like two high speed road course corners. I also think traffic might play a big role there – that hasn’t been an issue on any of the other ovals thus far, but I think with how short that track is, it might this weekend. I’m excited, I’m looking forward to it, and to just going into the last two rounds with an open mind – we’re looking to win a race or two and to finishing the season strong.”

Sundaramoorthy scored his first series podium earlier this month on the oval at World Wide Technology Raceway, and the Oconomowoc, Wis. native looks to maintain that momentum.

“We got the most laps of anyone at the test (179 laps) and had good qualifying pace,” said Sundaramoorthy. That’s more experience than I had going into either Iowa or World Wide Technology Raceway so I feel pretty confident about the weekend. I’ve gained a lot of confidence after the last couple of ovals, hopefully we get a good result.”

Sundaramoorthy will attend Friday’s Big 10 home opener between Wisconsin and Western Michigan as a guest of his alma mater, watching pre game festivities from the field. He has the added incentive of running in front of his home state fans this weekend – just look for the Badgers shirt and the driver carrying the Wisconsin football colors on his racing helmet.

“I’m excited to wear the Badger colors for the fans – I’m looking forward to being the hometown guy this weekend,” said Sundaramoorthy. “We’re looking forward to giving them someone local to cheer for!”

USAC sprint car and silver crown standout Ferns (Shelby Township, Mich.) has committed to adding the INDY NXT series to her continued efforts in USAC but has found that process hampered by weather issues that have cost the team several test days.

“It’s been an interesting transition,” said Ferns. “You’re carrying so much more speed when you’re turning in, and for me, it’s now about having confidence in the car. A silver crown car has a good deal of rear offset, and the cars kind of tell you a story in how they respond. So I need to trust my entry points and then I think the rest will come. I just need to get over that hurdle and that comes with seat time. I feel as though I progress each time I get on the track and I’m looking forward to continuing that this weekend.”

ABEL Motorsports thanks partners ABEL Construction Company, Advance Ready Mix, Boyd Cat®, S Team Motorsports and OMP for their continued support.

The INDY NXT by Firestone Milwaukee 100 takes the green flag Saturday at 3:50 p.m. ET. The race will be streamed live in the U.S. on Peacock, while international viewers can watch via INDYCARLIVE, with INDYCAR Radio available at indycar.com and on Sirius XM.

Abel Motorsports PR