Former Andretti Global IndyCar headliner Colton Herta is circulating in a heady new orbit this year after eight seasons as a second-generation IndyCar driver.
He’s exactly on the trajectory he dreamed of as a youngster watching father Bryan Herta race. And he’s right where 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner, former teammate, and fellow Californian Alexander Rossi says he belongs.
Herta is running in the FIA Formula 2 series for the Hitech TGR team, hoping to earn enough points for a Super License that would qualify him to step up eventually to the Formula 1 Championship with the newly minted American Cadillac team. And while the US media seems worried that Herta will carry massive pressure, Rossi—who made five Formula 1 starts himself—assured that is not the case.
“Colton doesn’t carry any weight, because whether it goes well or not, I can promise you, he won’t lose any sleep over it,” Rossi said.
“But I think he’s very excited about the opportunity to go and experience something new and something that ultimately was a dream of his as a child,” he said. “Yes, he watched his father race in IndyCar, was a huge part of this paddock as a kid growing up. His goal as a young race-car driver was to race in Formula 1. He’s been afforded the opportunity to have the first step in accomplishing that dream this year.
“So, I think from the little kid inside of him—as much as he’s not really an adult in my mind yet—the little kid inside of him is just thrilled for the chance and excited to take on new tracks and race new people in a new way, obviously be very involved in Cadillac F1. It’s partially a dream come true for him. I know he’s going to grab the opportunity with both hands,” Rossi said of the calm-under-stress nine-time IndyCar winner.
Herta might not be feeling abnormal pressure, but certainly he has been and will be drawing plenty of scrutiny. Someone during Tuesday’s IndyCar Content Days opener asked Rossi what impact Herta’s performance might have on the NTT IndyCar Series that opens its calendar March 1 at St. Petersburg, Fla.
With an impish grin, Rossi said, “I've already told him if he sucks, I'm deleting his phone number and I'll never talk to him again. I’m kidding! There is pressure. We all know what Colton is capable of. I don't think anyone is worried about it.”
