Cape Motorsports captures first INDY NXT podium in Detroit
The team scores its best finish of the season, with both Jagger Jones and Enaam Ahmed earning top five finishes
DETROIT (June 7, 2023) – Cape Motorsports came into the INDY NXT by Firestone season knowing that 2023 would be a learning year. That the team scored its first podium finish in only the fifth race weekend of the season bodes well for the rookie squad.
“Detroit, Motown, the Motor City,” said Dominic and Nicholas Cape. “What can you say, an awesome event for the race fan, you can really see the driver driving the car. Jagger had his first podium and drove fantastically all weekend, and Enaam stormed to a great fifth place and a hard-fought 10th place finish. A big thank you to all the team for their hard work.”
INDY NXT joined the NTT INDYCAR SERIES back on the city streets of Detroit, as the venue moved from nearby Belle Isle to the heart of downtown. The 1.645-mile, nine-turn racetrack was neatly carved out of a combination of Jefferson Avenue – the main thoroughfare in downtown Detroit – and streets surrounding the GM RenCen.
With the playing field substantially leveled – as none of the teams or drivers had even seen the downtown circuit before – the team looked to make a statement in the pair of 45-lap races.
Job one for the Cape crew would be to find the limits on the narrow circuit, without going too far over those limits. Mechanical grip was at a premium, as the tight corners reduced the effectiveness of the Dallara’s aero grip – especially as drivers were using some of the lowest gears they’d utilize all season.
The series had a lone 50-minute practice session Friday afternoon for drivers to master the new layout ahead of qualifying. Jones and Ahmed took a measured approach to learning the track, with its unforgiving concrete walls. 15 minutes into the session, it was clearly mission accomplished, with both drivers in the top 10 (and Jones as high as 4th midway through the session). The drivers also found the limit along the way, joining seemingly every other car with a quick stop in the turn one runoff. At the end of the practice, Jones had set the 10th quickest time, with Ahmed right behind in 11th.
The team made significant changes to both cars ahead of Friday late afternoon qualifying, with the track at its hottest temp of the weekend (91F ambient/109 track). Two lightning-fast eight-minute sessions set the two grids, and at the final checkered flag, Jones had placed his No. 98 Dallara into 8th on the race one starting grid and 15th for race two, with Ahmed and his No. 47 Dallara in 11th for race one/10th for race two.
Race One (Saturday)
At the drop of the green, Jones slid between two other cars in a gutsy move into 6th on the long front straight, while Ahmed took 8th as the pole sitter was hit from behind and spun, bringing out a full course yellow. Both cars moved up an additional position when the leader received a drive-through penalty for avoidable contact.
The race restarted on lap six with Jones deftly avoiding contact between the two cars ahead in turn three to take third, as the three leaders separated from the rest of the field. Ahmed captured 5th on the restart and stapled himself to the rear wing of Jacob Abel but with James Roe filling his mirrors.
The race settled in, with Jones and Ahmed easily holding their positions until lap 23, when the two cars behind Ahmed came together, bringing out another FCY. Restarting on lap 27, Jones held his ground in third but stayed with the two leaders who were battling hard, looking to take advantage of any mistakes. Ahmed and Ernie Francis, Jr. were also dicing for position, with Francis managing to get by with three laps to go. Jones seemed destined for third but with two corners to go, Nolan Siegel’s gearbox failed, giving Reece Gold the win and putting Jones into second position for the team’s first podium finish. Ahmed came home in a hard-fought 5th position.
Race Two (Sunday)
Sunday brought very different weather conditions, with much cooler temperatures and a tailwind down the long front straight. Both drivers took advantage of multiple incidents ahead early in the race that put Ahmed in 9th and Jones 12th. By lap 12, Ahmed had Roe’s familiar blue Dallara in his rear-view mirror, with the British Pakistani driver determined to hold the position. Unfortunately, on lap 15, Jones lost the rear tires in the exit of turn two, and hit the concrete wall, ending his day – but with Jones quickly out of the car under his own power.
Back to green on lap 20, Ahmed rode the rear wing of Sowery, who spun trying to pass Abel for 7th, putting Ahmed into 8th. On lap 24, Ahmed made a move on Abel in turn three, with the pair making side-to-side contact through the corner. He tried the same move on the next lap, with the same result, Ahmed remaining glued to Abel’s rear wing and looking for an opportunity. With 10 laps remaining, Ahmed pulled alongside Abel going into turn three, but lost traction and slid through the corner, coming out of turn four in 10th position. A late caution stopped the pair’s duel, with Ahmed taking the checkered flag for his second top 10 finish of the weekend.
Next up for Cape Motorsports will be the series test this week at Iowa Speedway, then the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Road America, part of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ Sonsio Grand Prix Presented by AMR June 15-18. Practice and qualifying sessions will be broadcast on INDYCAR LIVE and INDYCAR Radio, with Sunday morning’s race live on Peacock.
QUOTEBOARD
ENAAM AHMED – No. 47 Surgery Center Development Company Dallara
Race one: Start – 11th / Finish – 5th
Race two: Start – 10th / Finish – 10th
Championship standing: 10th
“It was a solid weekend, good points in the bag. I’m happy with how we’re progressing – we need to work on our qualifying performance, which will come in the future. But the car had great race pace and the team made good strategic calls with setup for the races. Saturday’s race was good, it was great to see the team earn its first podium in the first race, with both cars in the top five. Race two didn’t go as planned, as I was a little too aggressive with the overtaking and lost a few positions. But as always, we learned a great deal, so now we focus on the Iowa test this week and Road America in two weeks. I had a podium in USF Pro 2000 there last year so looking forward to getting back on the permanent road course.”
JAGGER JONES – No. 98 Total Sim/Mecum Auctions Dallara
Race one: Start – 8th / Finish – 2nd
Race two: Start – 15th / Finish – 19th
Championship standing: 15th
“The speed was good Saturday, but not great – we were just smart. I was pretty aggressive early and was able to force a mistake by the driver ahead. If it had been for the win, I might have been able to get around Reece, but for second or third, it wasn’t worth the risk. I knew he was out of push-to-pass on the last lap, but I got sideways on one of the bumps and that cost all my momentum. But it was great to get the team’s first podium!
“Sunday, I started further back, and knowing how hard it is to pass, I was working on getting a better run out of turn two so I’d be able to make a move. I was a little too aggressive on the throttle and the rear came out from under me. It was driver error and I’m sorry for the team, they gave me a great car all weekend. But it’s great momentum for us – forget about Sunday and take the positives from the weekend.”
