Abel keeps Indy Nxt title fight alive with win in Portland

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Jacob Abel kept his Indy Nxt title hopes alive with a win over his main rival Louis Foster in Portland.

The Abel Motorsports driver is mathematically still in the fight for the championship title and is the only one who can deny Andretti Global's Foster the 2024 title.

Abel took the lead right from the start and overtook poleman Foster before the first corner. Foster tried to fight back and was never far behind Abel, but the leader gave him no chance to get back past.

Further back, a slight blockage in the first corner forced the drivers into the run-off area, but everyone made it through the first lap unscathed.

On lap eight, the lead car was brought out onto the track after Juncos Hollinger Racing's Ricardo Escotto made contact with the rear of James Roe Jr.'s car. Roe came to a stop on the track, but the Andretti driver was able to continue and pitted. Escotto also pitted, where he retired.

Foster attempted to take the lead from Abel at the restart, but his rival chose the perfect time to return to racing speed to stay in the lead.

The battle would eventually involve Foster's teammate Bryce Aron, who had held onto third place after a strong start. But Aron was never close enough to threaten the top two and settled for his second podium finish of the season.

After a strong start, HMD Motorsports’ Caio Collet finished fourth ahead of teammates Christian Brooks, Reece Gold and Myles Rowe.

The closest battle of the second half of the race came at the end of the top 10, as HMD's Josh Pierson tried to keep Andretti's Jamie Chadwick and his own teammate Callum Hedge at bay. As Chadwick and Hedge battled, both drivers were forced to the outside at the chicane and dropped back.

HMD's Jonathan Browne continued to put pressure on Pierson, but was able to fend him off and the pair ended up behind Yuven Sundaramoorty.

Race result (35 laps)