Colton Herta demonstrated his exceptional talent by setting a new lap record during the qualifying session of the Detroit Grand Prix weekend. The 25-year-old driver from Andretti Autosport secured pole position at the Michigan street circuit, marking a significant turnaround in his 2025 season performance after a slow start.
Despite finishing second to Alex Palou in the 2024 IndyCar season, Herta struggled through the first half of the current campaign, without any pole positions and having led just one lap at the St. Petersburg Grand Prix. His remarkable lap in Detroit, timed at 01:00.4779, not only broke his own previous record of 01:00.5475 set in 2024 but also outpaced his closest rival by nearly two seconds.
David Malukas, driving for AJ Foyt, was the next fastest on the grid with a lap time of 01:00.6492. Herta’s performance was nearly seven-tenths of a second faster than his 2024 qualifying time and an impressive 1.7 seconds ahead of Malukas. This dominance highlighted Herta’s strong pace throughout the weekend and positioned him as the favorite going into the race.
Herta’s response to his breakthrough qualifying performance in Detroit
After clinching pole position, Colton Herta expressed his excitement and reflected on the team’s efforts throughout the weekend. He acknowledged how the softer tires had posed challenges during practice but praised his crew’s overnight improvements that contributed to the fast time in qualifying.
Speaking in a video shared by IndyCar on FOX, Herta said,
“Yeah, I mean, it was such an unknown and we were not really strong, to be completely honest, yesterday with the softer tires. But the guys did a great job overnight. Gainbridge Honda was super fast today—that is a big relief. We have been close a few times this year, not only making it to the Fast Six, but making it on a pole run.” —Colton Herta, Andretti Autosport Driver
“So I’m happy to do that, happy to start P1 tomorrow—the best seat in the house—and now we just need a nice, easy race, no yellows, go back to how it was before Indy [500], make it easy for us.” —Colton Herta, Andretti Autosport Driver
This pole position, the 15th of Herta’s career, sets the stage for a strong chance at his first race victory since winning the 2024 Music City Grand Prix. However, the unpredictable nature of street racing, where incidents and caution flags can quickly change the race dynamics, could pose challenges.
Building momentum for race day following Detroit qualifying success
Herta’s ability to overcome early difficulties in the 2025 season and deliver such a standout performance underscores his resilience and pace as one of IndyCar’s premier talents. Winning pole at Detroit, a circuit that demands precision and confidence, not only boosts his morale but also establishes him as the frontrunner when the race starts.
The Andretti Autosport driver will aim to translate his record-breaking qualifying into a victory, a feat he could not achieve in the previous Detroit Grand Prix due to an unfortunate accident involving French driver Tristan Vautier. That incident relegated Herta to a 19th-place finish and ended his hopes for a strong result on that day.
The combination of Herta’s evident speed, the team’s strong preparations, and the advanced performance of the Gainbridge Honda powertrain offers optimism. If he can avoid errors and stay clear of race disruptions, Herta has every chance to add another win to his career record.
