Jacob Abel gained NTT INDYCAR SERIES seat time Nov. 13 when he tested for Chip Ganassi Racing at Texas Motor Speedway.

Despite CGR finalizing its three-driver lineup of Scott Dixon, Alex Palou and Kyffin Simpson on Oct. 30, this test on the 1.5-mile, high-banked oval was still an opportunity-driven endeavor for Abel, who finished runner-up in 2024 in INDY NXT by Firestone. You don’t pass on a chance to test with the team that has won four of the last five NTT INDYCAR SERIES championships.

“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. “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.”

Abel’s goal was to deliver CGR engineers all the information they needed because of the faith showed by the team allowing him to drive and provide feedback.

“There's really no other team in the sport that's going to leave you better prepared when you arrive at the track,” Abel said of CGR and its testing program. “They’re obviously a very legendary organization, and preparation is really important in this industry. That's something that they obviously do really well. They weren't going to allow me to really walk in there blind, so to speak.

“Just 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 (at Texas) and all things like that. Just utilizing 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.”

Abel did his homework, too, allowing a rapid ascension to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES machinery in just a handful of laps. Part of that is due to having another INDYCAR SERIES test on Nov. 6, 2023, at Sebring International Raceway for Dale Coyne Racing and being familiar with the car and how it responds. Another part is how close INDY NXT by Firestone competition has come to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

Abel, a three-time INDY NXT by Firestone race winner, credited the top development series leading into the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to preparing him for this test. Abel, 23, improved in all three INDY NXT seasons, moving from eighth in points in 2022 to fifth in 2023 to third in 2024.

His stats jumped in his third season, scoring all three career wins, 10 top-three finishes, 11 top-five results and 12 top 10s in 14 starts for Abel Motorsports.

Being a three-year team leader with Abel Motorsports, a team owned by his father, Bill Abel, provided testing opportunities which indirectly aided in the Texas test with Ganassi.

“I've had a lot of experience working with that car (INDY NXT) over the past three years and really trying to develop what we've had at Abel Motorsports,” he said. “Being a smaller team and me being the lead driver for the past three years, it's given me a ton of experience in setup changes and developing a car and really trying to figure out what I need in a car.

“Just being a smaller team like that and not having all the resources has made that a lot more important. I think that paid dividends at the Texas test, and I think it'll hopefully pay dividends moving forward in my INDYCAR career.”

Finding immediate comfort behind the wheel helped more than just Abel. It also allowed the team to accomplish its goals. Abel turned roughly 250 laps and trusts his feedback and professionalism displayed is enough to merit a future opportunity.

“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 (next) 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.”