Colton Herta can have a simple task staying motivated throughout the IndyAutomotive offseason after winning last Sunday within the 2024 season finale at Nashville Superspeedway.
The impressive move that brought the 24-year-old Herta the gift of luck and triumph got here after a late pass on Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward with five laps to go. The pair battled it out and as they reached the lapped automotive of Sting Ray Robb, O’Ward – the race leader – soared high while Herta dived low and had enough momentum to get on the within O’Ward before passing him for the lead on the straight.
It was not only Herta’s ninth profession victory, but in addition his first on the oval track, helping him to second place overall within the championship, a career-best result.
“Throughout the race I had to overtake my rivals coming out of the corners,” said Herta.
“I was able to get down the middle to get out of the corners and get off the power really well. We had a lapped car and there was enough space between us to get low and pass (O'Ward). I'm just happy. The Gainbridge Group 1001 Honda was so quick all weekend. We couldn't show it in qualifying but we knew we had a hot rod in the race today. It's been an incredible year. Second place in the championship is incredible but it gives us something to aim for in 2025.”
Colton Herta, Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian Honda, podium, guitar, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Photo: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images
Herta finishes the yr with two wins, a career-high six podiums, 10 top-five finishes and three poles in 17 races. Uniquely, his only other oval win also got here against O'Ward within the 2018 Indy NXT season within the Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was also Andretti Autosport's first oval win since 2018 against Alexander Rossi at Pocono Raceway.
“It was time,” Herta said. “I believe there have been persistently when I assumed we could have won or must have won, and plenty of things happened that prevented us from doing so. Fortunately, today every part went well.
“I think it was in the form of a little move to catch up with Pato. I think from my perspective it was a really exciting race to finish it like that in the last few laps so I was fighting with Pato and then Josef (Newgarden) was close to fighting with Pato. No, it was a great race.”
When asked if the performance was a preview of next yr, Herta answered truthfully.
“I hope so,” Herta said. “We could have done a whole lot of things to win the championship this yr. I believe we’ll give it some thought, take a look at it within the off-season.
“It hurts a bit when you think about winning the last race and he didn’t have a particularly strong performance, so we could have made up a lot of points today if we needed to in the championship fight.”
