Abel sent packing as Coyne cars struggle for speed at Indy once again

Jacob Abel failed to qualify for his first Indianapolis 500. He joins Dale Coyne Racing alumni Nolan Siegel, who failed to qualify for last year’s race in the same No. 51 Honda he was driving through Sunday’s time trial, as the newest rookie to miss out on taking part in the great race.

Like Siegel, it wasn’t due to a lack of talent or effort; it was the same sheer lack of speed DCR’s cars showed at the Speedway in 2024 when Katherine Legge qualified 31st and Siegel crashed while attempting to make the show. In 2025, it was Indy 500 specialist Rinus VeeKay in 33rd with the No. 18 DCR Honda and Abel on the outside in the No. 51 car.

Marco Andretti was fastest among the four drivers vying for three spots in the Last Chance Qualifying session with his No. 98 Andretti Global entry (229.741mph) ahead of Marcus Armstrong’s No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing Honda (229.091mph) and VeeKay (226.913mph).

“It sucks, obviously, for sure,” Abel said. “You know, unfortunately, been preparing for this a little bit the past couple of days, or the past day really. You know, we were fast all week. I felt really good with the race car. All week long we were in a good place. We were always there, there about and everything. But yeah, it's like something happened on Friday night. I don't know if someone came in there and stole all of our speed or horsepower, but yeah, as soon as we hit Saturday, we just didn't have any pace, and it honestly just kept getting slower and slower each run,” Abel said after his 226.394mph final run. “I hope they figure something out for Rinus because the delta is pretty big, and it keeps just growing from us and the other cars. Hope they find something, but regardless, we'll be back next year, hopefully.”

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