Ayrton Houk Racing

Two Tracks, Two Exams, One Podium: What a Week at Indy!

What a week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway! Between college exams, GT4 racing, a quick trip to Anderson Speedway, and an unforgettable podium finish, this was one of the busiest and most rewarding weeks of my racing season.

The final weekend of my 2026 sports car season with CSM Motorsport and the No. 007 Aston Martin in Pirelli GT4 America certainly gave us plenty of challenges, but it also delivered a finish I’ll never forget.

Wednesday: Testing On and Off the Track

Wednesday kicked off with two official test sessions at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was an opportunity to get more seat time in the Aston Martin, work with the team, and continue learning how to get the most out of the car.

But racing wasn’t the only testing on my schedule that day!

I also had a college exam scheduled at Purdue University. With the race weekend already underway, I had to arrange special permission from my professor to take the exam remotely with an approved proctor.

Fortunately, my aunt Jan, a Purdue alumna and former adjunct professor, was able to help. She graciously came out to the track and proctored my exam right inside the office of the CSM team hauler!

Not exactly your typical college testing environment, but we made it work!

Thankfully, testing in all forms went well that day, and I was able to stay on track with both my racing and academic responsibilities.

Thursday: Practice, Then Back to Purdue

Thursday marked the first official practice session of the Pirelli GT4 America weekend.

Practice 1 went well, and Ismaeel and I spent time working on driver changes and helping the team evaluate adjustments to improve the car. With two drivers sharing the Aston Martin, getting comfortable with the driver exchange and making sure the car works well for both of us are important parts of preparing for race day.

As soon as practice wrapped up, it was time for another quick change of gears.

I headed north to Purdue’s campus for an 8:00 PM exam that evening!

Balancing professional racing with my senior year at Purdue’s Daniels School of Business definitely makes for some interesting schedules, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to pursue both.

Friday: A Strong Qualifying Run and an Unexpected Twist

Friday morning, I made the drive back to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Practice 2 and qualifying.

The weekend featured two races, with each driver responsible for qualifying and starting one race. Ismaeel would qualify and start Race 1, while I would qualify and start Race 2.

Ismaeel put together an excellent qualifying run, securing P4 for Race 1! It was a great result and gave us a strong starting position heading into Saturday.

Unfortunately, when it was my turn to qualify for Race 2, the series experienced technical difficulties with its timing and scoring system. The session was ultimately canceled, and officials announced that the Race 2 starting grid would be determined later.

It was disappointing not to have the opportunity to qualify, especially after all the progress we’d made with the car, but sometimes racing throws you a curveball. We shifted our focus to preparing for the weekend’s first race.

Saturday: Two Races, Two Tracks, and a Tough Day

Saturday was going to be a busy one, with GT4 America Race 1 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway followed by an All Star Midget race at Anderson Speedway that evening.

Our GT4 race started strong, with Ismaeel taking the opening stint from P4.

Unfortunately, issues during our pit stop cost us valuable time and track position.

By the time I got into the car, we had fallen well down the running order. I focused on driving a clean, consistent stint and recovering as much ground as possible.

We ultimately finished P18 overall and P9 in class. It wasn’t the result we’d hoped for, but we were determined to come back stronger on Sunday.

There wasn’t much time to dwell on it, though!

As soon as my commitments at IMS were finished, I hopped into the family sedan, and my dad drove me across town to Anderson Speedway, where I was scheduled to race the JK Racing All Star Midget.

Unfortunately, that race didn’t go according to plan either.

Early in the race, a mechanical issue caused the throttle to stick open. I collided with another car, sending both of us into the wall and ending our night.

Thankfully, neither driver was injured, although the same couldn’t be said for the race cars.

It was certainly a frustrating way to end an already challenging day. Racing has its highs and lows, and Saturday was a reminder that not every race goes the way you envision.

Even on the difficult days, I never lose sight of how fortunate I am to have the opportunity to do what I love.

And fortunately, we still had one more race ahead of us.

Sunday: From P16 to the Podium!

Sunday morning brought the news we’d been waiting for. With Friday’s qualifying session canceled, officials had determined that we would start P16 for Race 2.

We knew we had work to do.

Our strategy was straightforward: stay out of trouble, race smart, and execute a clean pit stop and driver change.

I took the opening stint in the No. 007 Aston Martin. There was some chaos early in the race, but I was able to avoid the incidents, settle into a rhythm, and steadily work my way through the field.

By the time I came into the pits to hand the car over to Ismaeel, we’d climbed from P16 to P10.

The CSM crew executed a flawless pit stop and driver exchange, getting Ismaeel back onto the track before the leaders had completed their stops.

From there, Ismaeel drove a fantastic closing stint. He made some strong moves, avoided trouble, and continued moving us forward.

When the checkered flag fell, we’d done it.

A podium finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway!

After the challenges of Saturday and starting Sunday’s race deep in the field, standing on that podium was an incredible feeling.

I’ve spent my entire life watching some of my racing heroes celebrate on the podium at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. To have the opportunity to stand there myself was surreal and something I’ll never forget.

Looking Back on an Incredible Opportunity

When I joined CSM Motorsport midway through the 2026 season, I knew transitioning from open-wheel racing into sports cars would be a learning experience.

The Aston Martin Vantage GT4 is a very different car from what I’ve spent most of my career driving. Every race weekend has challenged me to adapt my driving style, understand a new type of race strategy, and learn how to work with a co-driver in endurance-style competition.

From my first GT4 race at VIR to competing at Indianapolis, Road Atlanta, and back to Indy for the SRO finale, I’ve gained valuable experience that I know will help me throughout my racing career.

I’m incredibly grateful to CSM Motorsport, the entire crew, and my co-driver Ismaeel Ellahi for welcoming me into the team and helping me develop throughout these past few months.

I’m also thankful to my family, friends, partners, and everyone who continues to support my racing career.

A special thank you to:

Your support means more than you know.

Building Toward 2027

This season has been about learning, growing, and preparing for the next chapter of my racing career.

I’ve experienced some incredible highs, worked through plenty of challenges, and learned something valuable every time I’ve climbed behind the wheel.

Ending my sports car season on the podium at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was the perfect reminder of why we put in the work.

Now it’s time to take everything I’ve learned, continue building our program, and focus on the opportunities ahead in 2027.

The goal is more races, more progress, and more podiums.

Be Part of What’s Next!

As I look ahead to 2027, I’m actively working to secure the partnerships and financial support needed to continue advancing my professional racing career.

We’ve built some great momentum this season, and I’m excited about the opportunities ahead. But taking the next step requires the support of people and organizations who believe in what we’re building.

There are three ways to get involved with Ayrton Houk Racing:

Investment in Ayrton Houk Racing: An opportunity to become an investor by purchasing an ownership interest in AMH Racing, LLC.
Corporate Sponsorship: Partner with Ayrton Houk Racing to create marketing opportunities through brand exposure, client entertainment, employee engagement, hospitality, and unique experiences in professional motorsports.
Charitable Giving: Support through a charitable contribution to the Wings and Wheels Foundation, which has been an important part of my racing journey.

I’d welcome the opportunity to meet with anyone interested in learning more about these options and discussing how we might work together.

And even if a partnership isn’t the right fit for you, you can still help! Sharing my story, spreading the word, or connecting me with individuals or businesses who may be interested can make a tremendous difference.

Every introduction, conversation, and connection helps open new doors.

I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has helped me get this far, and I hope you’ll consider being part of the next chapter.

Let’s keep this momentum going into 2027!

For any young racer from Indiana, the dream is to win the Indianapolis 500.

Hometown: McCordsville, IN

School: Purdue University West Lafayette, IN

Competencies:

Lucas Oil School Car

Formula Ford 1600

Kenyon Midget

Allstar Midget

Formula 1000