Coyne Signs Abel to Car 51

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Dale Coyne Racing announced today the signing of Indy NXT runner-up Jacob Abel to a full season deal to drive car 51. The move leaves just Coyne’s second car, number18, as the only seat left to fill for the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series grid.

The announcement from Dale Coyne Racing:

Plainfield, IL. (Monday, January 13, 2025) Dale Coyne Racing today announces that multiple-time Indy NXT race winner and 2024 vice champion Jacob Abel will step up into the NTT IndyCar Series in the No. 51 My Entry for the full 2025 season. The 23-year-old American driver is making the leap from Indy NXT after a successful 2024 campaign that saw him finish in the top five 11 times in the series’ 14-race schedule, three of which were victories, ending the season as vice champion.

“We are excited about running another Indy NXT Vice Champion here at Dale Coyne Racing,” commented team owner Dale Coyne.

“We have watched Jacob over the years and did an evaluation with him at the end of the 2023 season, where he showed great promise in these cars. It will be good to get back to one solid driver for the whole season again. Our plans for our second driver are coming along quite nicely, and we will have more news on that in approximately 3 weeks.” In the fall of 2023, Jacob got the call up from Dale Coyne to do an evaluation day at Sebring. Jacob adapted quickly to the pinnacle open wheel Indy Car and impressed his suitors.

“I cannot tell you how excited I am to get a full time Indy Car ride for 2025. I have worked my whole life for this opportunity,” gleamed the likeable 23-year-old Abel.

“The test at Sebring with Dale and the test this fall with Chip Ganassi, only made my resolve greater. I know it is a competitive road ahead, but we look forward to hard work and showing what we can do together as a team.”

Abel will begin his time with Dale Coyne Racing with a test session at The Thermal Club, where he will start preparing for the NTT IndyCar Series’ first race of the season at St. Petersburg, FL, on Sunday, March 2nd, with coverage beginning at 12 p.m. ET.

PREMA Launch- a New Standard for Team Launches?

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PREMA’s Indycar team launch on Friday made a strong statement as to the team’s serious intent to compete in IndyCar. The event was a splashy affair, hosted by motorsport commentator Will Buxton, who introduced team owner Rene Rosin, Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles. PREMA IndyCar director Piers Phillips. and PREMA’s drivers, Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman. Shwartzman will be the first Israeli born driver in the series.

If you missed it, here is the link to the YouTube event. Warning- there is a 15-minute countdown at the beginning. You’ll want to fast forward through.

🔗

Romain Grosjean has signed as a reserve driver for the team, and Ryan Briscoe will take on an advisory role. The team has also added engineer Michael Cannon. All in all, the new entry to the series is beginning with quite a solid supporting lineup.

PREMA faces many obstacles in his inaugural IndyCar season, which I will discuss at a later date. Friday was a day for celebration and optimism as the American open wheel series welcomes a new membr.

The car will carry the colors of the Italian flag. I like the color scheme.

Ilott will drive car 90, and Shwartzman will be the pilot of car 83. Thye numbers reflect significant dates in the history of the team. The team began in 1983. 1990 saw PREMA’s first championship.

Friday’s program was very well done, and I would like to see other IndyCar teams do a similar season kickoff. It’s a great way to have a day of publicity for each team. It would be a boost for the smaller teams who don’t get much attention once the racing starts.

Marco Returns for Indy; Helio to Attempt Daytona 500

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The Andretti name stays on the grid. The rumors and speculation have been put to rest. Andretti Global confirmed that Marco Andretti will return to the team for his 20th Indianapolis 500. The 2020 Indianapolis Pole winner has eight top 10 finishes and top 5 runs in the 500. His best finish was his rookie year, when he was nipped at the line by Sam Hornish, Jr., in 2006.

Andretti’s’ last Top 10 was in 2017, an eighth-place result, and his last Top 5 was in 2014 when he ran third. In addition to his pole, Andretti also started on the outside of the front row in third.

Castroneves Tries Daytona

Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 next month with Trackhouse Racing. Castroneves, a part owner of Meyer-Shank racing, will also drive in the Indianapolis 500.

I like when drivers race in different forms of racing outside their primary category, but the corporate. proprietary nature of racing today makes it such a big deal when it happens. It shouldn’t be. Drivers used to race in several different series all the time during the season.

The Field of 33

Andretti’s entry brings the entry list to 33 for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500.

The entry list to date:

McLaren (4): O’Ward, Siegel, Lundgaard, Larson

Penske (3): Newgarden, McLaughlin, Power

ECR (3): Rossi, Rasmussen, Carpenter

Foyt (2): Ferrucci, Malukas

JHR (2): Robb, Daly

Prema (2): Ilott, Shwartzman

DRR (2): RHR, Harvey

Andretti (4): Herta, Kirkwood, Ericsson, Andretti

Ganassi (3): Simpson, Dixon, Palou

MSR (3): Rosenqvist, Armstrong, Helio

RLL (3): Rahal, DeFrancesco, Foster

DCR (2): TBA, TBA

McLaren Purchase Ends the Sam Schmidt Era

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First, a happy new year to everyone. The Pit Window is settled into winter headquarters, in the nick of time it appears. For those still in the north, stay safe.

The year begins with a bittersweet story. McLaren Racing has completed the purchase of Arrow McLaren Motorsports, and Sam Schmidt is no longer involved with the team. Schmidt founded Sam Schmidt Motorsports after his testing accident at Orland Walt Disney World Speedway, which left him a quadriplegic.

In 2013, he partnered with Jim Peterson, and the team became Schmidt-Peterson Motorsports. Davey Hamilton was also a partner that year, bringing HP sponsorship.

Schmidt -Peterson Motorsports sold 75% of the team to McLaren in 2021, and the name changed to Arrow McLaren SP. In 2023, the team again altered its name to the current Arrow McLaren Racing. Tony Kanaan has been named Team Principal.

The changeover is the second team ownership change since last summer, when Michael Andretti stepped down from Andretti Global.

I am sad to see Sam Schmidt leave IndyCar as a team owner. He is a profile in courage. Schmidt’s resiliency after his accident is an example for others. I wish him well, and I hope we still see him at the track.

Happy Holidays

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The Pit Window wishes everyone a happy holiday, whatever you celebrate. I have so many to thank for this year.

First thanks to all the fans who read this column. You have made 2023 the third best year for readership. I appreciate your loyalty. You are thew reason I continue to do this.

Kyle McInnes– thank you for the great photos which many times were the highlight of the posts. I hope we can work together again in 2025.

Track media directors– thank you for allowing me space to cover your events. I appreciate the opportunity you afford me.

Special thanks to Michael Friedman and Kevin Toy for helping get through Le Mans.

And thanks to my life partner, Martha Strum, whose support has made all my trips possible.

I am looking forward to the 2025 IndyCar season. Let’s hope there is more good racing like we saw late last season and a lot less off-track controversy.

This will be my last post of 2024 unless something earth shattering happens in the next week.

The Pit Window plans to move to winter headquarters January 1, in time for testing at Sebring.

Have a wonderful holiday. See you next year.

FOX Sports and INDYCAR Announce INDY NXT by Firestone Schedule on FS1, FS2 

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From IndyCar:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024) – FOX Sports and INDYCAR have revealed the television schedule for the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone season. As part of the new media rights deal between FOX Sports and INDYCAR announced in June, the entire INDY NXT season will be available live on television for the first time. Twelve INDY NXT races will appear live on FOX Sports’ FS1 with two airing on FS2.
Additionally, all practice and qualifying sessions for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ developmental series will air on a combination of FS1 and FS2. All INDYCAR programming also streams live on the FOX Sports app.
“As part of INDYCAR’s exceptional partnership with FOX Sports, INDY NXT by Firestone will receive unprecedented exposure,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “As we have seen, the competition in INDYCAR’s developmental series is fierce and intense. A full season of live races on network television via FS1 and FS2 will prove to be a significant showcase for INDY NXT and the drivers vying to advance to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.”
In 2024, INDY NXT averaged the most starters (19.5) since 2009 and is on pace to see a record 24 full-time starters in 2025.The battle for the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone championship begins on the palm tree-lined streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., Sunday, March 2 at 10 a.m. (All times Eastern).
The 2025 champion will once again be crowned at the season finale at the thrilling Nashville Superspeedway Sunday, Aug. 31 at 11:30 a.m.
The schedule also includes a return to several venues where on-track passing records were broken in 2024:
Barber Motorsports Park
Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course
World Wide Technology Raceway
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
INDY NXT drivers and teams also look to extend 2024 qualifying records at:
Streets of St. Petersburg
Streets of Detroit
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Iowa Speedway
World Wide Technology Raceway
Portland International Raceway
Milwaukee MileE
xcept for the United States, the INDYCAR LIVE streaming service will continue to provide live coverage of 14 INDY NXT races along with all practice and qualifying sessions.
 Click here for pricing and more information on INDYCAR LIVE.

2025 INDY NXT BY FIRESTONE TELEVISION SCHEDULE:

DateVenueTelevisionTime (ET)
Sunday, March 2Streets of St. PetersburgFS110 a.m.
Sunday, May 4Barber Motorsports ParkFS111:30 a.m.
Friday, May 9Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Race 1FS17 p.m.
Saturday, May 10Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Race 2FS11 p.m.
Sunday, June 1Streets of DetroitFS110:30 a.m.
Sunday, June 15World Wide Technology RacewayFS1Noon
Sunday, June 22Road AmericaFS11 p.m.
Sunday, July 6Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseFS211:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 12Iowa SpeedwayFS11:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 26WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Race 1FS24:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 27WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Race 2FS11 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 10Portland International RacewayFS11 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 24Milwaukee MileFS111:30 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31Nashville SuperspeedwayFS111:30 a.m.

FOX Sports, INDYCAR Unveil 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race Broadcast Start Times

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 From IndyCar. These times are broadcast start times, NOT green flag times.
 A Record 19 Network Windows, All 17 Races on FOX, Expanded Indy 500 Pre-race Coverage
FOX Dedicates Six Hours of Live Coverage to the May 25 Indianapolis 500
INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024) – FOX Sports and INDYCAR have announced the race broadcast start times for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule.
Announced in June as part of the new media rights deal between FOX Sports and INDYCAR, an NTT INDYCAR SERIES record 17 races will be available on broadcast television providing a massive increase in exposure for North America’s premier open-wheel racing series. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the only premier motorsport series in North America with all races broadcasting live on network television. All INDYCAR programming streams live on the FOX Sports app.
The season launches on FOX with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding at noon (all times Eastern) Sunday, March 2. The year also is highlighted by the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 25, with the broadcast beginning at 10 a.m. to allow for over two hours of pre-race coverage before the green flag.
The 2025 season will close in dramatic fashion on Labor Day weekend with the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31.
“The unrivaled exposure FOX will bring to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, including an additional hour of Indy 500 pre-race coverage, will prove to be a spectacular showcase for our drivers and teams,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “With FOX’s tremendous partnership and support, we’re going to bring the most competitive and compelling motorsport on the planet to a growing and massive audience. We cannot wait to raise the curtain on the 2025 season with FOX.”
Other notes of FOX’s 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES broadcast schedule include:
The first points-paying The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix on the 17-turn, 3.067-mile Twin Palms circuit at the scenic The Thermal Club, Sunday, March 23 at 3 p.m.
A return to network television for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday, April 13 at 4:30 p.m.
Network coverage of the finishing hours of both days of qualifying for the Indy 500 on Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18 at 4 p.m. bringing the total number of network windows on FOX to a record 19.
Non-stop racing action in July with five races in four weekends including the popular Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend doubleheader Saturday, July 12 at 5 p.m. and Sunday, July 13 at 2 p.m. at Iowa Speedway.
The return to network television for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto on the tight and unforgiving Streets of Toronto circuit Sunday, July 20 at 2 p.m.
The historic Milwaukee Mile, which produced the most on-track passes on record in 2024, will be the penultimate race of the 2025 championship Sunday, Aug. 24 at 2 p.m.
WHAT NTT INDYCAR SERIES DRIVERS ARE SAYING:
“I’m excited to get the 2025 season started and go for a third straight championship with the No. 10 DHL Honda team. FOX Sports has been a great partner so far and I cannot wait to get back on track at St. Pete.” – Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
“On behalf of everybody in INDYCAR, we’re so excited about the new partnership with FOX Sports. They’ve given us so much already and I can’t wait to see what we can do together in 2025. I think we’re really going to bring INDYCAR to the masses and retell our story in a significant way. I think people are going to be really pleased with what they see. The first round can’t get here soon enough. It’s going to be a big year.” – Josef Newgarden, Team Penske
Coverage of all 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice and qualifying sessions will be featured on either FS1 or FS2. FOX Deportes will carry exclusive Spanish-language television coverage of the Indianapolis 500, with a more complete 2025 season schedule to be announced at a later date.
Coverage schedule for the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone championship, the developmental series for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, also will be announced at a later date.

FOX SPORTS’ 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES COVERAGE SCHEDULE:

DateVenueTelevisionTime (ET)
Sunday, March 2Streets of St. PetersburgFOXNoon
Sunday, March 23The Thermal ClubFOX3 p.m.
Sunday, April 13Streets of Long BeachFOX4:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 4Barber Motorsports ParkFOX1:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 10Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course)FOX4:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 25Indianapolis Motor Speedway (oval)FOX10 a.m.
Sunday, June 1Streets of DetroitFOX12:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 15World Wide Technology RacewayFOX3 p.m.
Sunday, June 22Road AmericaFOX3:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 6Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseFOX2 p.m.
Saturday, July 12Iowa Speedway Race 1FOX5 p.m.
Sunday, July 13Iowa Speedway Race 2FOX2 p.m.
Sunday, July 20Streets of TorontoFOX2 p.m.
Sunday, July 27WeatherTech Raceway Laguna SecaFOX3 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 10Portland International RacewayFOX3 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 24Milwaukee MileFOX2 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31Nashville SuperspeedwayFOX2:30 p.m.

Conor Daly Returns to Juncos Hollinger Racing to Complete 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Lineup 

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Exciting news from Juncos Hollinger Racing:

Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) is thrilled to announce the return of Conor Daly, completing the team’s 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES lineup. Daly, a proven talent with deep ties to the team, made an indelible mark during the second half of JHR’s 2024 campaign, securing the team’s first-ever podium finish with an impressive 3rd place at the Milwaukee Mile. His addition completes the team’s two-car roster as they prepare for an exciting and competitive season ahead. 
“I’m thrilled to be joining the JHR team for the full NTT INDYCAR SERIES season in 2025,” shared Conor Daly, the most recent addition to the Juncos Hollinger Racing driver lineup. “After the excitement and success we shared in 2024, including Milwaukee, it feels like the perfect next step. I’m grateful for Ricardo and Brad’s belief in me as I embark on the revitalization of my career. I look forward to pursuing podiums and wins with this incredible group. Thank you to everyone involved in making this happen – it’s been a team effort, and we’ll continue to build on this momentum together.”
“When Conor rejoined us last year, it felt like we seamlessly picked up right where we left off in 2010,” said Ricardo Juncos, Co-Owner and Founder of JHR. “I’m thrilled to have him back in the car full-time for 2025. With both seats now filled, the team is laser-focused on building momentum and delivering standout performances throughout the year, aiming for an exceptional season ahead for Juncos Hollinger Racing.” 
Brad Hollinger, Co-Owner of JHR, shared, “Conor is an outstanding addition to our team. He is a fantastic ambassador for the sport and has proven his speed not only in our car, but also through his tested tenure in the series. Providing him with more opportunities to collaborate closely with our engineers and crew will undoubtedly enhance the team’s performance, and empower his own unrelenting drive for success.”
“Our main priority this year is to build upon the success we’ve seen in the team’s short three-year campaign,” explained Dave O’Neill, Team Principal of Juncos Hollinger Racing. “With Conor joining the team and Sting Ray already confirmed, we’re well-positioned to achieve that. This is just the beginning of a long-term process to build a stronger and more competitive foundation for the future.” 
Juncos Hollinger Racing will kick off the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season at the highly anticipated season opener in St. Petersburg on March 2.  

2024 Reflections-The Dream Come True 

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Editor’s note: This is the first of a series looking back at my racing season of 2024. Of course I’m starting with Le Mans.

Reality exceeded the dream. Emotional highs and goosebumps marked my 10 days in Le Mans. I was 10 years old when I first learned of the Le Mans 24-hour race. I read everything I could find about it. Two years later I announced to my family that I wanted to go to Le Mans.  I would accept the trip as any gift for any occasion- graduation, birthday, Christmas- the occasion didn’t matter.  

I never received an envelope with plane tickets to Paris. I still followed the race and learned more of its history. During my freshman year in high school, I spent my study hall time writing a novel about Le Mans. I’m pretty sure it was not a classic. I grew older, and life got in the way.  

In 2023, after a health scare, I made up my mind. I am going to Le Mans next year. I can wait no longer. I called a travel agency in London that specializes in motorsport travel and booked lodging at the track and bought a race ticket. Friends who had been there inundated me with advice. I don’t think I could have navigated the Paris Metro without their help. 

While I spent the entire time on an emotional high, there were three times when my excitement boiled over and spilled out of my eyes. I entered the track for the first time on the Sunday before the race. The first step through the gate onto that hallowed ground ended a 65 year wait. The track was still a mile away, but I had made it.  

The next day at the museum two of my favorite cars of all time- the 1959 Shelby Cobra and the 1970 Gulf Porsche sat silently and proudly, anxious  to Have their engines roar to life again and roll onto the circuit just a few hundred feet away.  

I had eagerly awaited and dreaded race day. I knew containing my feelings would be a challenge. I told myself I had control, and I enjoyed the opening ceremonies until the first notes of La Marseilles. Control failure.  

The start of the race calmed me down. I took in as much of the track as I could, defying the intermittent rain and the long tram lines. Twenty-four hours goes by quickly when you want it to last forever.  

Everything was just as I had pictured, and in many ways the event was even better than I had imagined.  

All dreams must end, and it seemed that just a minute later I was in Charles de Gaulle airport boarding my flight home.