Colton Herta quits Europe to race Indy Lights in 2017
Herta, who finished third in last year’s EuroFormula Open series, will race in America in 2017 under the banner of Steinbrenner Racing, as the New York Yankees-owning family partners with Andretti Autosport to form a four-car Indy Lights team.
Photo by: FotoSpeedy
George Michael Steinbrenner IV, whose father purchased the New York Yankees in 1973, will serve as Andretti Steinbrenner Racing team principal, overseen by Andretti Autosport co-owner Michael Andretti, whose other three Indy Lights cars will be piloted by Nico Jamin, Dalton Kellett and Ryan Norman.
Herta, son of Bryan Herta who runs the #98 IndyCar of Alexander Rossi, will also run #98 on his Indy Lights car. He has already tested an AA Dallara-Mazda IL15 at Sebring and Gateway MSP's oval.
The Pacific F1600 champion finished third overall in both the 2015 MSA Formula championship and the 2016 EuroFormula Open series, and also earned one win and three podiums in just two British Formula 3 events last season.
He said: "I'm very pleased to be coming back to race in the States. IndyCar is my goal, so competing in Indy Lights this year will bring me one step closer.
“I know I have a good team behind me in Andretti Steinbrenner Racing and we should be fighting for wins right away.”
Said Andretti: “Colton set out at a young age to create his own path in racing, and I’m really pleased to see that path bring him here to Andretti Autosport.
“Through our Indy Lights program, we are dedicated to developing future IndyCar drivers, and Colton has shown that he is both determined and talented enough to reach the Verizon IndyCar Series. We’re excited to be a part of his continued development.”
He added: “Partnering with a name as iconic as Steinbrenner is really something I’m looking forward to. “George Michael [Steinbrenner IV] has a great vision for his race team, just as his grandfather had for the Yankees. We are looking forward to having him join us in our Indianapolis office in a very hands-on role with the team.
“I think together the partnership can continue to grow in motorsport, and it is only fitting that we begin by entering a car into the Mazda Road To Indy program with Indy Lights.”
Steinbrenner IV, declared: “I have been around Indy car racing for nearly half of my young life as a fan and enthusiast. Andretti Autosport always seemed to have a prestige in how they operate and present themselves that mirrors that of the Yankees.
“The legacy of the Andretti name and the success and wide reach of the Andretti brand is as impressive as you will find in the world of motor racing.”
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
The long evolution of Dallara's Indy 500 winner
IMSA Laguna Seca: Ganassi Cadillac holds off Porsche for victory
O’Ward, Rossi impressed by McLaren’s “massive step forward”
Drivers offer thoughts on Thermal exhibition, ideas on format changes
Herta snags top five despite cautions derailing tire strategy in St. Pete
What will it take to get American drivers in Formula 1?
Newgarden fastest in rain-shortened first day of Indy 500 Open Test
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
The 1982 frenzy that modern F1 could miss out on by ejecting Andretti
How a Shanghai to Sheffield journey paved the way for China’s F1 hero
Hamilton expects to lose positions if F1 China sprint is dry
Verstappen 'deserves' fourth in China F1 sprint qualifying with wet struggles
Why Norris's China F1 sprint pole lap was deleted and reinstated
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments