Category: NTT Indy

CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
TEAM CHEVY PRACTICE REPORT
MAY 31, 2024

PATO O’WARD AND ARROW MCLAREN LEAD TEAM CHEVY IN THE FIRST PRACTICE FOR THE CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX, FINISHING THE SESSION SECOND ON FRIDAY

• Pato O’Ward, driver of the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, led Team Chevy on the streets of Detroit finishing first practice in second with his fastest lap of 1:01.7315.
• Chevrolet finished with five drivers in the top-10 in first practice, with O’Ward in second, Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden of Team Penske in fifth and sixth, AJ Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci in seventh, and Will Power of Team Penske in ninth.
• Saturday sees a second practice session at 9:10 a.m. ET, as well as qualifying and the Firestone Fast Six at 12:15 p.m. ET. Coverage of both sessions is broadcasted via Peacock, as well as INDYCAR Radio and SiriusXM Channel 218.

TEAM CHEVY TOP-10 PRACTICE RESULT:
Pos. Driver
2nd Pato O’Ward (1:01.7315)
5th Scott McLaughlin (1:02.0959)
6th Josef Newgarden (1:02.2377)
7th Santino Ferrucci (1:02.3277)
9th Will Power (1:02.4474)

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING (QUOTES):

Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet:

“It feels good to come back to Detroit and be in the window. Solid job by all the boys rolling out strong and looking forward to tuning on this Sexton Properties Chevrolet.”

Sting Ray Robb, No. 41 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet:

“Pretty happy with the first practice. We learned a lot. It was a clean run with just a couple kisses of the wall but nothing too dramatic, so happy with that. The Goodheart Vet / Pray.com Chevrolet feels really nice and I think we’re in a good spot. I didn’t get a great run on the greens (tires) but I think we’ll have it figured out. Santino had a great run so I think that we’ll compare notes and see what we can learn for tomorrow.”

Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:

“It’s better than last year. We got laps in, you know? We’ve still got some work to do. It’s tricky out there. It really is. There’s a lot of bumps, and it’ll be very important to get the window right on the car in qualifying just because those bumps can kind of throw you off in sequence quite quickly. It’ll just ruin your lap, so you have to be pretty precise.”

Théo Pourchaire, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:

“It is a fun track, and I really like it. The first practice was a bit of a mess for us with all of the traffic. We don’t know the real pace because some cars are blocking the other ones because of the track layout. That’s no one’s fault; no one is doing it on purpose. With so many cars on the track, it can be tough to get a lap. We struggled with the balance a bit at the beginning, but we improved toward the end. It’s all part of racing and we will get there. The most important thing is to get better, and we will work for a great job tomorrow.”

Alexander Rossi, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:

“It’s great to be back in Detroit. We will be looking for some performance overnight, but Pato’s car looks good. We will look at that and see what we can do to improve the No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet for tomorrow.”

Gavin Ward, Team Principal at Arrow McLaren:

“Everybody is taking a bit of time to get the tires up, which is a common theme out there today, but I’m encouraged that we have one of our cars up there at the top of the timing sheets. So, there’s some good data there to look at to try to get things dialed in for tomorrow.”

Romain Grosjean, No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet:

“Day one in Detroit, and it was bumpy, slippery, and a lot of fun out there. I think the car’s got some potential. Obviously, it’s always hard to put a lap here in, but we’ll do some work, come back tomorrow, and hopefully qualify well.”

Agustin Canapino, No. 78 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet:

“We started here in a good way in Detroit, P11 for beginning of the weekend. I’m happy to start this way. Of course we want to be faster tomorrow. We are slightly away from the pace of the leaders but I think we have a good car to start the weekend.”

Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet:

“I think we just got better through the session, and we were running a lot of the primary tires. Definitely abusing them. In the middle, towards the end of the early running, I think we hit on some changes that were really good. Then, we were able to show it a little bit more on the greens. I think we have event more in it. I think the car feels really good. I’ve got to clean some stuff up on my side. I think I know some areas where we can be better and faster. The Astemo Chevy looks good, feels good. Long weekend, we’ve got to make it to the end, and we’d love to have a good result with these guys.”

Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet:

“I learned how to spin in each of them because I kept going down the escape roads. That’s all part of it here. You risk in the points where you’ve got least risk. The Gallagher Chevy feels really good. On the straightaways, I feel like I am in a really good spot. It felt really strong, so I hope that carries on throughout the weekend.”

SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN, NO. 3 GALLAGHER TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET – End of Day Press Conference:

THE MODERATOR: Joined now by Scott McLaughlin, best finish of seventh in the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.

Q. Testing the limits, is that going into the runoffs, trying to find a place you can brake?

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Basically, yeah. A lot of it’s the corners where you know you have the runoff. Might as well bring a yellow out now than later. That’s always my strategy on street circuits.

Q. Can you change your brake bias during a lap?

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Yeah, you can.

Q. Something you would do at a place like this?

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Depends. It really depends on what you got in the car and how comfortable you are with it.

Yeah, that’s something I’ve done in the past with Supercars, for sure.

Q. Everybody is complaining the place is very bumpy. Is there anything you can do in the setup to make it a little bit easier?

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: I think it’s character. You can do a couple little things, softening or whatnot. Ultimately there’s a point where it hurts the balance trying to set up for the bumps. You just got to deal with them. It’s not a billiard table, absolutely not. It’s Detroit streets. We just enjoy it.

Q. (No microphone.)

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Yeah. Couple guys are going to have to tighten the belts, enjoy it.

Q. Any bumps from last year been smoothed over?

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Last corner coming out of the pit straight. Really, really good. I think there’s a lot of great improvements. Off the long back straight, it’s a lot smoother there. Bumpy down Jefferson Ave. Once it gets to the point they resurface, they resurface a thousand feet or something like that, which is amazing.

Yeah, I think there’s been a lot of really good improvements from this time last year to now. So yeah, I think they’ve done a really good job.

Q. That plus the car being lighter, the whole year of setup data, faster than last year in the first practice?

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Was it? Maybe we all know this track a bit better. That for sure is probably a thing. Last year first practice was our first time on track. After a year, everyone has seven-posted, thought about different things. Cars are just better, they’re lighter.

Yeah, it’s probably a case of that, too.

Q. The alternates and the primary look close together to the point that some drivers chose not to switch on the split segment. We could expect this to be a primary race on Sunday?

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: I think you’re nuts not to run them right now because you can’t run them again. I feel like that’s a silly move.

Ultimately we’ve seen this trend. I think it might lend to that way. It just depends on how it goes throughout the weekend.

I think as the track grips up, tires are probably going to wear out less. We’ve seen this trend quite a fair bit. Yeah, I feel like it’s going to be more of a green tire race already.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Scott.

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Thank you.

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

DETROIT (Friday, May 31, 2024) – Louis Foster charged to the top of the leaderboard late in the opening practice Friday for the Detroit Grand Prix, setting the pace by more than four-tenths of a second in INDY NXT by Firestone.

Foster’s best lap on the nine-turn, 1.645-mile temporary street circuit in downtown Detroit was 1 minute, 6.8356 seconds in the No. 26 Copart/Novara Technologies car fielded by Andretti Global. Nolan Siegel was second at 1:07.2513 in the No. 39 HMD Motorsports machine.

“There are a few places where the track organizers have smoothed over some of the bumps,” Foster said of the challenging circuit. “But it’s still very bumpy, it’s still quite aggressive, and it’s still quite hard to drive. But that’s what makes it so much fun.

“We just continue to do what we’re doing, push forward and hope to get some more wins.”

Foster, who won the most recent race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, captured the pole for both races of the Detroit doubleheader last year and set the track record for the series.

Series points leader Jacob Abel ended up third at 1:07.3609 in the No. 51 Abel Construction car fielded by Abel Motorsports as the top three drivers in the championship standings rose to those spots in the 45-minute practice. Caio Collet was the quickest rookie and fourth overall at 1:07.4695 in the No. 18 HMD Motorsports car.

James Roe rounded out the top five at 1:07.4820 in the No. 29 Topcon machine of Andretti Global.

Four red flags interrupted the practice, two for the stopped cars of Siegel and Yuven Sundaramoorthy and two for separate wall contacts by Lindsay Brewer and Bryce Aron. Rookies Brewer and Aron were unhurt.

Up next for the INDYCAR development series is practice at 8 a.m. ET Saturday, followed by qualifying at 11:20 a.m. (both on INDYCAR LIVE, INDYCAR Radio Network). Live coverage of the 45-lap race starts at 10:20 a.m. ET Sunday on Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network

Netflix, INDYCAR Team Up To Celebrate Upcoming Release of ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’

DETROIT (Friday, May 31, 2024) – Actors Judge Reinhold and John Ashton, stars of the upcoming Netflix release “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” will be featured guests at this weekend’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear.

The fourth installment of the celebrated “Beverly Hills Cop” franchise will stream globally and exclusively on Netflix beginning July 3.

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear airs on Sunday, June 2 at noon ET on the USA Network, Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

Reinhold will join a long list of celebrated INDYCAR Fastest Seat in Sports passengers as he leads the field to green in a custom INDYCAR SERIES car with a special back passenger seat. This high-speed, high-octane, super-charged thrill ride already has been taken by Jon Bon Jovi, actor Dylan Sprouse and country music star Riley Green during the 2024 INDYCAR season.

Ashton also will take a high-speed lap around the Detroit Grand Prix track, and both actors will be introduced to the crowd during pre-race ceremonies before taking a special grid walk before the green flag drops.

Both actors are reprising their long-running key roles for “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.” The movie begins with Detective Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) back on the beat in Beverly Hills. After his daughter’s life is threatened, she (Taylour Paige) and Foley team up with a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and old pals Billy Rosewood (Reinhold) and John Taggart (Ashton) to turn up the heat and uncover a conspiracy.

The franchise has deep ties with the city of Detroit, where its first scenes take place with Foley serving as a Motor City plainclothes police detective. Netflix also had a significant display supporting the film featuring seven vintage Chevy Novas at the recent Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

This is the second year INDYCAR has raced on the streets of downtown Detroit after a 32-year era on Belle Isle. The energy will be felt with an inclusive and open event for fans as more than half of the racing circuit will be accessible for FREE – creating a deeper connection with local communities and neighborhoods.

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (30 May 2024) – ABEL Motorsports INDY NXT by Firestone championship leading Dallara will carry new colors in this weekend’s Detroit Grand Prix, as the team’s sponsor, ABEL Construction Company, pays homage to one of its largest clients.

The No. 51 Dallara driven by Jacob Abel (Louisville, Ky.) will carry blue and red racing colors this weekend as Bill Abel – ABEL Motorsports team owner and ABEL Construction Company CEO – takes the opportunity to recognize the future of electric cars in the United States and the project that involves the ABEL Construction Company.

The company has signed on for extensive construction and planning for BlueOval SK, where the next-generation electric vehicle battery will be built. When at capacity, 5,000 new jobs are expected to be created at BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale, Kentucky.

“This is by far and away the largest project we’ve done,” said Abel. “The work that we do ranges from facilities, maintenance, general construction, process support, and installation of new equipment, automation, all those sorts of thing. So it’s a wide ranging project and we greatly appreciate BlueOval SK’s confidence in us to manage all the different aspects. This weekend’s livery is our way of saying thank you for that confidence.”

“BlueOval SK is proud to have partners like ABEL Construction helping with the BlueOval SK Battery Park project in Glendale, Kentucky,” said BlueOval SK CEO Michael Adams. “We’re leading the shift to electric vehicles in the automotive industry and excited to begin production in 2025.”

Abel and teammate Yuven Sundaramoorthy (Oconomowoc, Wis.) hit the streets of Detroit on Friday.

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 Detroit Grand Prix takes the green flag Sunday, June 2 at 10:20 a.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.

About BlueOval SK
BlueOval SK is the joint venture between Ford Motor Company and SK On to produce batteries for future Ford and Lincoln electric vehicles. SK On is a subsidiary of SK Innovation and has deep expertise in battery production. BlueOval SK will operate twin battery manufacturing facilities in Glendale, Kentucky and one battery plant in Stanton, Tennessee starting in 2025. BlueOval SK will electrify the future of mobility with innovative technology.

About Abel Construction Company: ABEL Construction is one of the largest general contractors in Kentucky, holding licenses in thirteen states. The company has offices in Lexington, Kentucky and Indianapolis, Indiana, with the corporate office in Louisville. Their expertise spans many areas, including general contracting, construction management, design-build, Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), and facilities maintenance.

Abel Construction has helped build some of the region’s most recognizable landmarks. Their projects cover diverse sectors, including automotive, healthcare, post-secondary education, commercial, food/beverage, tech, and industrial/manufacturing. They prioritize client satisfaction, focusing on efficient project delivery regardless of size or cost. The company’s skilled professionals utilize cutting-edge technology and software to ensure successful outcomes. abelconstruct.com/.

About ABEL Motorsports: Team principal Bill Abel began racing motocross in 1972, earning numerous championship titles as he continued the family racing tradition. In 2015, ABEL Motorsports was launched, starting in the USF2000 series and building up the junior open wheel ladder. The team captured the inaugural Formula Regional Americas Championship with driver Kyle Kirkwood in 2018.

ABEL Motorsports currently competes in the INDY NXT by Firestone series, the official development series for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, led by third-generation driver Jacob Abel. The team made its INDYCAR debut in 2023 with driver RC Enerson in the Indianapolis 500. For more information visit the official team website at abelmotorsports.com.

ABEL Motorsports social media

Facebook: ABEL Motorsports
Twitter/X: ABEL Motorsports
Instagram: ABEL Motorsports

CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX
STREETS OF DETROIT
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE
MAY 30, 2024

CHEVROLET REVS UP FOR A MOTOR CITY BATTLE ON THE STREETS OF DETROIT

DETROIT (May 30, 2024) – The sixth round of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES 2024 season takes the competitive field to the Streets of Downtown Detroit for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix May 31-June 2.

Located in the shadows of GM World Headquarters at the Renaissance Center, the newly refreshed 1.645-mile, nine-turn temporary street circuit features a unique dual-pit lane and features three full days of activities and excitement on some of Detroit’s most popular and active Downtown areas. Additionally, the track straightaway that runs along Jefferson Avenue is the longest of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES street circuits, with the field reaching speeds of up to 189-plus miles per hour before diving onto Bates Street before heading back onto Atwater Street.

In its second year on the Streets of Detroit, the Bowtie brand has raced to victory lane on nearby Belle Isle eight times during the 2.2-liter twin turbo V6 engine era, additionally capturing eight NTT P1 pole awards, 22 podium finishes, and 556 laps led. In the return to downtown Detroit in 2023, Chevrolet captured one podium finish with Team Penske’s Will Power, along with 18 laps led.

“Racing on the Streets of Detroit is an important weekend for the Chevrolet powered teams in the NTT INDYCAR Series,” said Mark Stielow, Director of Motorsports Competition Programs. “Coming off a successful Month of May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, our Chevrolet engineering group as well as our teams and drivers are facing an entirely different set of challenges coming from the 2.5-mile oval to a short, tight street course with one very long straight. Continuing the dedicated effort by the Chevrolet engineers working with our teams, we will be prepared for the competition in the shadow of the Ren Cen.“

Before the field takes the green flag for the main event on Sunday around the 1.645-mile nine-turn temporary street circuit, the Bowtie brand will pace the field for the second week in a row, leading the pack in the beautiful Arctic White Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray. The first electrified and fastest production Corvette ever, the E-Ray pairs two separate propulsion systems to provide naturally aspirated V-8 power with electrified responsiveness powered by eAWD, making it one like none. A 6.2L V-8 is complemented by the electric motor that channels an additional 160 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque through the front wheels for 655 combined horsepower. Designed for year-round performance, the Corvette E-Ray and its electrified All-Wheel Drive (eAWD) capability is up for any challenge, and the exterior and interior of the Corvette E-Ray will be on full display as the car fulfills responsibilities on and off the track.

Featuring a full line-up of cars, trucks, SUVs, and the Corvette E-Ray, the Team Chevy display will be open all weekend long from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Located in Spirit Plaza, Chevy is ready to rev up fans’ experience at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear.

The 100-lap, 164.5-mile Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on the Streets of Detroit takes the green flag live on USA Network at 12 p.m. ET. Additional coverage is carried by Peacock, INDYCAR Radio, and SiriusXM Channel 160.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING (Quotes):

Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet:

Discuss Detroit’s unique features…

“I would say the pit lane, definitely unique. Obviously, most pits are quite technical and challenging as is this one, but I will say that it is very fun to have the dual pit lane. I think it kind of changes your strategy. We want to definitely be on the left side of pit lane this year compared to last year. I think it’s fun to be racing your competitors in pit lane as well under yellow. Overall, I like Detroit because it’s a very pretty track, very scenic. I would say the two best places to pass are down Jefferson Avenue into turn three and into turn eight, coming down towards pit lane down by the water.”

Sting Ray Robb, No. 41 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet:

“I said this even at the beginning of the year, that May can be a big momentum shift for anyone, and I was betting on that for us. We showed what this team is capable of doing and with slightly different strategy at the end of the race, we would’ve been fighting for the top spots. I see the morale boost on the team, and it is so good. “We were promoted to the front of the field (the first time) via staying out on the race track when everyone jumped to pit lane during a caution. That was a big surprise. When I was sitting there and the only car in front of me was the pace car, I had a slight moment of excitement. Definitely not what we had expected to happen at that point in the race.”

On racing in Detroit…

Personally, I loved Belle Isle. To see that leave the schedule was sad. However, I was surprised to see how good the racing actually was at the new circuit. There are a lot of straights to hard 90-degree corners which means big brake zones, so a lot of passing opportunities. I’m looking forward to rolling off this year with more experience for this event.”

Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:

“This weekend we’re back on a street course, and it’s a challenging one. It’s a big event for all of us, especially our friends over at Team Chevrolet. We’re going to try and do our best for them and hopefully have a good reason to celebrate at the end of this weekend.”

Théo Pourchaire, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:

“I’m really happy to be back behind the wheel of the No. 6 onsemi Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. It’s great to discover a new track, and I really enjoy racing on street courses. Hopefully we can have a good race and get a great result for Arrow McLaren and Team Chevy.”

Alexander Rossi, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:

“This is a wild time of the year as we have back-to-back races coming off the biggest month in racing. We’re pushing hard as a group, and I’m proud of the effort that everyone is putting in. I can’t wait to get back on the streets of Detroit and hopefully get a win for the bowtie family.”

Gavin Ward, Team Principal at Arrow McLaren:

“Even though the results from last weekend are still a bit fresh, we have very little time to dwell on those – we have a race to get ready for this Sunday. Detroit presents a great opportunity for us to build on the momentum we’ve created over the last couple weeks, especially considering how competitive we were there last year when we placed two cars in the top five. Pato (O’Ward) and Alexander (Rossi), and frankly everyone here at Arrow McLaren, are excited to get back out on track this weekend to fight for the win we were so close to last weekend, and we’re looking forward to welcoming Théo (Pourchaire) back for the remainder of the season.”

Christian Rasmussen, No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet:

“I can’t wait to get back to Detroit! I think it will be super special, especially as a Team Chevy driver. It was an event I really enjoyed last year running in INDY NXT. I’m looking to build on the momentum we have from the pace we’ve shown in our previous races and the Top 12 result we secured at the Indianapolis 500.”

Rinus VeeKay, No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet:

“Detroit is going to be fun! Definitely going to be a tired group of people throughout the whole series, but I think we are going to have a good weekend! It’s another opportunity for us to do well, we have a good street course package. With the track changes that have happened since last year, it should be a good race. And driving around the Chevrolet headquarters is always a plus! I am looking forward to it and going for a great result!”

Romain Grosjean, No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet:

“We are happy to be back racing in Motor City. It’s a challenging track and we will try to keep up the good work we have done so far this year on street courses.”

Agustin Canapino, No. 78 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet:

“We arrive to Detroit with good expectations, because we were able to be fast in the latest street courses, and the last year was good for us here. It is a very tricky track, and still new for the series. In 100 laps. you never know.”

CHEVROLET IN DETROIT:

Wins on the Streets of Detroit: 0

Wins at Belle Isle: 8

2014 (Race 1): Will Power

2014 (Race 2): Helio Castroneves

2015 (Race 2): Sebastian Bourdais

2016 (Race 1): Sebastian Bourdais

2016 (Race 2): Will Power

2019 (Race 1): Josef Newgarden

2021 (Race 2): Pato O’Ward

2022: Will Power

Earned Pole Awards on the Streets of Detroit: 0

Earned Pole Awards at Belle Isle: 8

2014 (Race 1): Helio Castroneves

2015 (Race 1): Will Power

2015 (Race 2): Juan Pablo Montoya

2016 (Race 2): Simon Pagenaud

2019 (Race 2): Josef Newgarden

2021 (Race 1): Pato O’Ward

2021 (Race 2): Josef Newgarden

2022: Josef Newgarden

Number of Team Chevy Podiums on the streets of Detroit (V6 era since 2012): 1 (Will Power, second – 2023)

Number of Team Chevy Podiums at Belle Isle (V6 era since 2012): 22

Number of laps led by Team Chevy on the Streets of Detroit (V6 era since 2012): 18/100

Number of laps led by Team Chevy at Belle Isle (V6 era since 2012): 574

2024 CHEVROLET BY THE NUMBERS:

204: NTT INDYCAR Series races as V6 engine supplier since 2012 return to INDYCAR.

114: Wins in the NTT INDYCAR Series since 2012.

130: Earned poles since 2012. Chevrolet holds 135 pole awards in total, with five recorded based on points for weather.

8: Manufacturer Championships since 2012.

7: Driver/entrant champions since 2012.

13: Indianapolis 500 victories by Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

6: Indianapolis 500 wins by Chevrolet since 2012 in the V6 2.2-liter twin turbo direct injected era.

32: Number of times Chevrolet has swept the podium in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES since 2012 in the V6 2.2-liter twin turbo direct injected era. In total, a manufacturer has swept the podium 50 times since 2012 in the V6 era.

26: Wins by Will Power since 2012 – all with Chevrolet power – most of any driver with the same manufacturer.

9: Wins from the pole by Will Power with Chevrolet power since 2012, most by any driver.

46: Pole starts by Will Power since 2012 in a Chevrolet-powered car, most of any driver.

*Will Power’s career total of 70 poles makes him the all-time pole winner in INDYCAR.

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

• With podium finishes in each of the first four races, Jacob Abel looks to grow his points lead
• Yuven Sundaramoorthy will return to Michigan in two weeks for the Formula SAE Electric final at Michigan International Speedway

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (27 May 2024) – On the heels of a victory and a second-place finish in the INDY NXT by Firestone doubleheader at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway two weeks ago, ABEL Motorsports takes a 25-point championship lead to the Motor City this weekend.

Yuven Sundaramoorthy (Oconomowoc, WI.) will race in Detroit for the first time, while Jacob Abel (Louisville, Ky.) raced on the new nine-turn, 1.7-mile downtown circuit last year, finishing fourth in the first of two races.

“The new circuit around the Renaissance Center feels raw, almost unfinished, in comparison to other street circuits we go to,” said Abel. “Tracks like St. Pete and Toronto are very polished, they almost have a road course look to them – the track is fairly smooth, and we know those tracks so well. Here, it feels as though you’re driving through the streets of Detroit, which makes for very interesting racing. Plus, on a new street circuit, things can change drastically year to year – we need to watch for repaving, or bumps that were there last year and are gone now. It’s a tough track, very bumpy, and it’s difficult to get into a draft.”

As the points leader, Abel knows the balance between going for the win and the need to score maximum points each race. But he also knows that the balance of risk and reward requires a little bit different calculation on a circuit as unforgiving as Detroit.

“It’s all very circumstantial,” said Abel. “It’s important to maximize every race weekend, and it’s still early in the championship so I’m not looking at the big picture quite yet. We’re just looking to go out there and win races and succeed as best we can. The best way to extend a championship lead is to win – and I think I’m the kind of driver who doesn’t take unnecessary risks as it is, so I’ll just keep that attitude going forward.”

Sundaramoorthy enjoys street course racing and hopes to add the Detroit circuit to his favorites list. The 21-year-old University of Wisconsin graduate also looks forward to returning to Michigan in two weeks, for a very special competition.

Sundaramoorthy will drive the Formula SAE electric vehicle he helped build while studying computer science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The student team will compete for the electric vehicle championship title at Michigan International Speedway, against as many as 119 university-based teams from all over the world. Wisconsin recently brought home third place in the combustion engine competition’s design category, though Sundaramoorthy had to miss the weekend as he was racing at Indianapolis.

“It’s so cool – you learn so much at those competitions,” said Sundaramoorthy. “You see everyone else’s cars, and everyone enjoys explaining what they did. Saturday will be the endurance race so hopefully we can do well!”

As the ABEL Motorsports team heads to Detroit with the points lead, it might be easy to think that a team leading the championship would change its practices or mindset. Team manager John Brunner would be quick to refute that idea.

“The job is the same every single weekend,” said Brunner, “We haven’t changed anything in our processes this year, but we have a confident driver – we’ve always thought that when Jacob wins a race, he’s going to be tough to beat, and I think that we’re living that right now. Detroit is a little bit different of a challenge in that it’s maybe a little bit tighter than Toronto or St. Pete in that and it’s definitely got its quirks, but the mindset is the same: if we have a car capable of winning, we expect to win. But the goal is clearly to get all the points that the car is willing to give us that day.”

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 Detroit Grand Prix takes the green flag Sunday, June 2 at 10:20 a.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.

About ABEL Motorsports: Team principal Bill Abel began racing motocross in 1972, earning numerous championship titles as he continued the family racing tradition. In 2015, ABEL Motorsports was launched, starting in the USF2000 series and building up the junior open wheel ladder. The team captured the inaugural Formula Regional Americas Championship with driver Kyle Kirkwood in 2018.

ABEL Motorsports currently competes in the INDY NXT by Firestone series, the official development series for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, led by third-generation driver Jacob Abel. The team made its INDYCAR debut in 2023 with driver RC Enerson in the Indianapolis 500. For more information visit the official team website at abelmotorsports.com.

About Abel Construction Company: ABEL Construction is one of the largest general contractors in Kentucky, holding licenses in thirteen states. The company has offices in Lexington, Kentucky and Indianapolis, Indiana, with the corporate office in Louisville. Their expertise spans many areas, including general contracting, construction management, design-build, Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), and facilities maintenance.

Abel Construction has helped build some of the region’s most recognizable landmarks. Their projects cover diverse sectors, including automotive, healthcare, post-secondary education, commercial, food/beverage, tech, and industrial/manufacturing. They prioritize client satisfaction, focusing on efficient project delivery regardless of size or cost. The company’s skilled professionals utilize cutting-edge technology and software to ensure successful outcomes. abelconstruct.com/.

ABEL Motorsports social media

Facebook: ABEL Motorsports
Twitter/X: ABEL Motorsports
Instagram: ABEL Motorsports

CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
THE 108TH RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
TEAM CHEVY RACE WIN NOTES
MAY 26, 2024

CHEVROLET CAPTURES A HISTORIC 13TH INDIANAPOLIS 500 VICTORY WITH JOSEF NEWGARDEN AND TEAM PENSKE

• Josef Newgarden, driver of the No. 2 Shell Team Penske Chevrolet, raced to victory in the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 to capture Chevrolet’s 13th in history and sixth in the 2.2-liter twin turbo V6 era since 2012.
• Today’s victory at Indianapolis is Newgarden’s second in a row, winning from starting third.
• With Newgarden’s first-place finish as well as Pato O’Ward in second, Chevrolet now has 19 podiums at Indianapolis in the V6 era since 2012.
• Racing to the prestigious winner’s circle, Chevrolet led 177 of 200 laps in today’s Indianapolis 500. Newgarden led 26 laps of Team Chevy’s 177 laps.
• With today’s Indianapolis 500 win, the Bowtie brand now holds 114 victories in the V6 era since 2012, in addition to 314 podium finishes.

TEAM CHEVY TOP-10 RACE RESULT:
Pos. Driver
1st Josef Newgarden
2nd Pato O’Ward
4th Alexander Rossi
6th Scott McLaughlin
8th Santino Ferrucci
9th Rinus VeeKay
10th Conor Daly

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING (QUOTES)

Mark Reuss, President of General Motors:

“Congratulations to Josef and the No. 2 Penske team on winning back-to-back at the Indianapolis 500. What an incredible accomplishment. I’m so happy to see Roger get his 20th win here. Chevrolet engineering, our partners at Ilmor and race teams worked hard in the off-season to prepare for the 2024 Indy 500. They delivered power, speed and performance all month long.”

Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Shell Team Penske Chevrolet:

“I knew we could win this race again; it was just a matter of getting it right. There’s no better way to win a race than that. I got to give it up to Pato (O’Ward) as well. He’s an incredibly clean driver. It takes two people to make that work. It’s not just a good pass, it’s also someone that you’re working with that’s incredibly clean. I have to give hat’s off to Pato (O’Ward). He could have easily won this race, too, but it just fell our way. I’m just so proud of everybody. I’m proud of this whole team. Everyone that partners with us, Team Chevy. Just a great day.”

“We just had an incredible car. I got just a little out of position at Lap 150; we were restarting eighth. I don’t think I got that sequencing correct. I really thought I went too soon, and then tried to back up and then put us in a hole. JD came over the radio and said you’re going to have to win this the old fashion way, I can’t help you. There’s not going to be stops, not going to fuel. So, I just went for it. I said alright, the car was good enough. You guys have done your job, let me drive to the front. They backed me the entire way. You can’t win this race without a great car. This is the best car in the field, I think, today. Hat’s off to the team.”

CHEVROLET AT INDIANAPOLIS:

Wins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway: 12

1988: Rick Mears

1989 Emerson Fittipaldi

1990 Arie Luyendyk

1991: Rick Mears

1992: Al Unser, Jr.

1993: Emerson Fittipaldi

2002: Helio Castroneves

2013: Tony Kanaan

2015: Juan Pablo Montoya

2018: Will Power

2019: Simon Pagenaud

2023: Josef Newgarden

2024: Josef Newgarden

Earned Pole Awards at Indianapolis Motor Speedway: 13

1987: Mario Andretti

1988: Rick Mears

1989: Rick Mears

1990: Emerson Fittipaldi

1991: Rick Mears

2002: Bruno Junqueria

2012: Ryan Briscoe

2013: Ed Carpenter

2014: Ed Carpenter

2015: Will Power

2018: Ed Carpenter

2019: Simon Pagenaud

2024: Scott McLaughlin

Number of Team Chevy Podiums at Indianapolis (V6 era since 2012): 19

Number of laps led by Team Chevy at Indianapolis (V6 era since 2012): 1,602

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.