AutoRacing1 speaks with Daniel Abt

Daniel Abt

AutoRacing1 had the pleasure of meeting Audi Sport ABT Formula E driver Daniel Abt this past August during the MAVTV 500 IndyCar weekend at Auto Club Speedway. The 22-year-old German came to Southern California with his friend Conor Daly, and spoke to many IndyCar teams about possibly joining the series in 2015.

Recently, AR1's Lucille Dust caught up with Abt about how he got started in racing, what his impressions were of IndyCar, his prospects for joining the series and a host of other subjects. Enjoy.

AR1: You started racing at the age of 16 for your Father's team, Abt Sportsline in ADAC Formel Masters in 2008. In 2009 you won the championship for his team. Your Dad was also a racer. Could you tell us a little about your junior career and start in racing?

Abt: I was 15 when I started racing in ADAC Formula Masters – before I was doing karting which I started at the age of 6. after learning a lot about the basics of racing in karting, where I was all the time with different teams and not with my family we decided to start our own team in the newly formed ADAC Formula Masters in order to make sure I have the best possible learning environment for the start of my single seater career. My dad used to race when he was young but he focused quite soon on the business part of the company while my uncle Christian kept racing. My uncle was actually the one helping me with my first steps in those cars.

AR1: Did he let you develop your own driving style or did he teach you his style?

Daniel Abt at Bahrain in GP2

Abt: My dad was never a single seater racer so he was completely out of that and also my uncle just gave me advice when needed. My family always wanted me to take my own way rather than pushing me into a certain direction.

AR1: Do you feel driving for his team was an advantage for you? Or would you have preferred to drive for another team?

Abt: For the start of my single seater career it was definitely helpful as they really made sure that I have all the people and resources to learn as best as I can. After the ADAC Formula Masters time I' moved on and worked with teams with all kind of nationalities and programs and really learned a lot. It took until now for me to get back to my family racing team with the start of our Formula E project.

[adinserter name="GOOGLE AD"]AR1: How do you like the Formula E cars? And what are your thoughts on the series so far?

Abt: I'm really a big fan of the Formula E concept. The cars are tricky to drive and provide a great show for fans. The street circuits we race on are completely unique and give this series it's special character. I think the series clearly aims to attract young people but I've seen all kind of people at the circuits. Very young to very old – everyone can enjoy this series.

AR1: What is your opinion of the lack of a racy sounding engine?

Abt: Of course it's nice to have massive sound that blows people away. But if we had that sound we wouldn't be able to race in all the city centers and it would just be a series like any other. Actually you get used to having less sound and start enjoying other things that come with it.

AR1: I was in Germany in the late 90s and every magazine cover seemed to have Michael Schumacher's picture on it. You were driving karts while we was still winning championships in F1. Was he someone you wanted to be like when you grew up? Did he influence your decision to start driving?

Abt: To be honest not at all. My decision to start racing obviously came with my family situation. Of course Michael was an amazing race driver and what he achieved is unbelievable but when I was young I was never a fan of people or teams that dominate a sport. I used to cheer for the underdogs.

Daniel Abt's favorite driver

AR1: Who is your favorite driver?

Abt: Lewis Hamilton

AR1: Who do you think is the greatest driver of all time?

Abt: There were and are many great drivers so for me it is impossible to find an
answer on that.

AR1: In the heyday of F1, F1 drivers used to also drive in F2 races. Do you think IndyCar drivers should also drive Indy Lights and F1 drivers should also drive GP2 to increase interest in those series and give the younger drivers someone to measure themselves against?

Abt: This is very hard to answer. I think it's important to race in a series where you can really grow as a driver and show what you can do. It's the job of the series bosses to give drivers a clear path and the environment to get to the top categories of racing. For sure there are too many series out there.

AR1: Do you agree that IndyCars and F1 Cars would have 1,000 HP?

Abt: I don't think it's 100% necessary as these cars are already very fast but if that is what the fans want and if it helps to increase the show – why not. As a driver I wouldn't say no.

AR1: Do you like standing starts?

Abt: Of course!

AR1: Do you brake with your left or right foot?

Abt: Left foot

AR1: What is the fastest speed your have ever driven?

Abt: 335km/h with GP2 in Monza

AR1: What kind of car do you drive at home?

As you might expect, Daniel Abt drives an Audi

Abt: An Audi TT-RS. With Abt engine tuning of course 😉

AR1: Are you living in Germany?

Abt: Yes in the south. Closest big city is Munich.

AR1: Why are you pursuing IndyCar?

Abt: Because I want to get to the next step in my career and feel that IndyCar is one of the best options a driver has at the moment. Getting into F1 is very tough and I don't want to spend another 3 years in GP2 before ending up as a test driver. That's not what I'm aiming for and I'm realistic enough to know my chances of getting to F1 are very small after 2 bad years in GP2.

[adinserter name="GOOGLE AD"]AR1: Your first experience with IndyCar was at Fontana last August. I read that you wanted a feel for the series before making the next step in your career. After your test at Barber Motorsports Park, are you feeling that this would be a good move?

Abt: Yes definitely. First of all I've became a big fan of the American lifestyle and the way the approach racing. People were welcoming me when I came to Fontana and I really enjoyed my time there. The IndyCar test itself was an amazing experience. It didn't take me long to get a feeling for the car and find the limits and I had a lot of fun. Also everyone at Andretti gave their best to make me feel comfortable and I really did.

AR1: How different was the IndyCar from the GP2 car?

Abt: Actually the difference was not that huge. The biggest difference were the tires. After driving with Pirelli tires the last 3 years it was great to just go out and push every lap without worrying about tire warm-up and wear too much. Braking with an IndyCar felt great and overall it's just a very nice car to drive. The cars are very physically demanding though – for sure the toughest car I've ever driven. After my test day in Barber I was really feeling my muscles.

AR1: How did you connect with Andretti Autosport to get the IndyCar test?

Abt: It all started when we met through our Formula E programs. We started talking and then I went to Fontana to watch and afterwards arranged the test. They are really a nice bunch of people and a very professional team.

AR1: Ovals will be a challenge for you in the IndyCar series. How will you prepare for this kind of race?

Abt: Ovals will definitely be the hardest part for me to learn and I have big respect for that. Of course I would need the right people to give me advice and to test a lot but other drivers before managed to do that so I see no reason why it shouldn't be possible.

AR1: If you get an IndyCar ride, what will be your goals for this season?

Abt: My goal is always to do the best I can and be competitive and with the right team it's for sure possible to achieve great results. But first my goal is to get a ride and then I will focus on the rest.

AR1: How do you feel driving against guys like Scott Dixon and Will Power?

Abt: I think there are a lot of great drivers in the championship so I have no special feeling for one driver. It would be great to be on track with all of them.

AR1: Do you think you and Conor will both be driving in the IndyCar series in 2015?

Abt: I really don't know. We both want to be in the series and I know Conor is also pushing as hard as he is able to get a ride. He's a really nice guy and a good driver and I'm crossing all my fingers for him to get a ride. He deserves it and actually was the person that brought my attention more towards IndyCar and introduced me to all the people. Let's hope for the best – time will tell where we end up.

Thanks for answering my questions. Looking forward to seeing you this season.

Lucille Dust reports on the Verizon IndyCar Series for AutoRacing1