Gabby Chaves dons his helmet as he prepares to race at Mid-Ohio. [Joe Jennings Photo]
Lexington, OH – Gabby Chaves has turned out to be a quick learner in his freshman year of competition with the demanding Verizon IndyCar Series circuit. In the first 13 races of the season, the 22-year old Colombian has acquitted himself well, earning a pair of top 10s and coming away with the prestigious rookie honors in the Indianapolis 500. He has succeeded while driving the Bowers & Wilkins/Curb Honda fielded by Bryan Herta Autosport
Regarding his season to date, the congenial driver said, “We have had our ups and downs, and we know it is part of the growing pains. We are doing what we can do to get through it, so we can get the results we want.”
As the reigning Indy Lights champion fully realizes, the jump to IndyCar represents a giant step up the ladder. “There are a lot more people and a lot more variables. You are definitely processing a lot more information,” he noted while at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this weekend. “The Indy Lights experience helps, especially being at all the tracks and taking step by step in a similar working environment.”
Chaves’s goals for the season were to win the rookie of the year for the series and the same achievement for the 500, the latter of which he’s already done. And beyond these two achievements, he’s focused on picking up top-five finishes. “We are getting close to better finishes.”
Even though the team represents a one-car effort, Chaves believes they function as a two-car organization due to the steady hand and mentoring by former star driver Herta, who passes along his information, experience and knowledge each race weekend.
There have been numerous unknowns experienced by the rookie, particularly in adapting to the new aero kits, but the team is making progress, albeit slowly. Fellow countryman Juan Pablo Montoya has been helpful, too, giving tips and sharing his experiences.
Interestingly, Montoya was the hero of Chaves while growing up, and he had posters of Montoya on his walls at home. “I remember watching him as a kid in his CART days,” Chaves noted. “I looked up to him back then and now it is fun to race him on track.” Another driver he looked up to and got to know was the late Dan Wheldon.
Chaves has lived in the United States for many years, as his father took a job in Florida years ago and moved the family there.
A week ago Chaves got a new experience when he raced a midget in the “Tony Stewart Midget Classic” on the 1/5-mile oval at the Lincoln Tech Indianapolis Speedway. “It was a lot of fun, even though I had never raced a midget and I had never seen these cars race,” he said. “Once I got accustomed to it, it was just another race car. Anytime I can get behind the wheel with a car with an engine, I am happy to do so.”
Chaves qualified 11th and was up to fourth at the half-way point. Then, he was offered a bonus if he dropped to last and won the race. He accepted the challenge and did well, ending up in fifth place. He would like to do it again and wouldn’t mind racing on dirt.
Looking beyond the 2015 season, Chaves hopes to return to the Herta team, hoping to build on the experiences of his freshman year. “We have built on our experiences and relationships and I like working with Bryan, so I hope it will work out,” Chaves said in closing.
In the meantime, the youthful Chaves is focused on the season at hand and looking forward to a long-running and successful career.