During Sunday’s Java House Grand Prix of Monterey held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, IndyCar race control’s decision to delay full-course cautions drew significant attention due to two notable incidents. The timing and handling of these cautions, which allowed some drivers to pit under green-flag conditions, raised concerns about safety and fairness.
On lap 25, Rinus VeeKay’s No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing car was left stranded in the Turn 3 runoff area after a collision with Kyle Kirkwood amidst a busy pit stop sequence. While local yellow flags were in effect for over a minute and a half, race control refrained from immediately calling a full caution. This caused drivers at different speeds to be on track simultaneously, with some exiting the pits and others racing at full pace. The delay benefited front-runners such as Alex Palou and Colton Herta by allowing their pit stops under green, but it disadvantaged Pato O’Ward, who had pitted earlier.
Colton Herta Supports IndyCar’s Caution Strategy
Later in the race, on lap 77, Marcus Ericsson lost control exiting Turn 6, causing his No. 28 Andretti Global Honda to come to a halt partially blocking the track at a blind uphill section near the Corkscrew. Despite the danger, race control again postponed the full-course caution for over a minute and a half under local yellows, as drivers passed the stationary car at high speed. This approach aligns with IndyCar’s recent hybrid power unit introduction, which improves chances of restarting stalled cars without help, allowing race officials to delay full cautions and keep the race flowing.
Colton Herta, driving the No. 27 Andretti Global entry and finishing third, defended the patience shown by race control. He explained that keeping the pits open as long as possible gave leaders the opportunity to pit freely, which he supports. He expressed frustration with the opposite scenario, where a yellow flag can negate the advantage gained by fast qualifiers and consistent front runners.
“Yeah, they should keep it open — they should keep the pits open as long as they can and allow the leaders to pit at every opportunity,”
said Herta.
“I think it’s not fair to be one of the fast guys, qualify well, and then have your day screwed by a yellow. It’s happened to everybody in this series, but when you’re running up front consistently, it burns you more often.”
Herta concluded by affirming that IndyCar’s approach is fair and should continue.
“It’s something that I think is a real plus from IndyCar. I think it’s fair, and I think it should continue.”
Christian Lundgaard Expresses Concern Over Safety Risks
Christian Lundgaard, who finished second in the race driving Arrow McLaren’s No. 7 car, presented a contrasting opinion regarding the delayed cautions. He acknowledged the pros and cons but highlighted serious safety concerns, particularly related to cars stranded in dangerous positions.
“I think there are pros and cons to it, in a sense. I mean, I was definitely driving around thinking, why is there a car sideways — well, technically backwards — going into the Corkscrew, and we’re green for two laps?”
Lundgaard cautioned that local yellows might not provide sufficient protection, especially when a vehicle is immobilized on or near the racing line. He emphasized the potential for catastrophic accidents if drivers are momentarily distracted.
“Yes, there’s a local yellow, but if someone isn’t really paying attention — maybe changing a switch on the steering wheel — it can go terribly wrong.”
Regarding the VeeKay incident, Lundgaard considered the delayed caution less hazardous since VeeKay was well off track. However, he was uncertain about whether he fully agreed with the strategy, though he respected IndyCar’s consistent application of the policy.
“The one with VeeKay in Turn 3 I think was more fair in a sense because you see him parked in the gravel. You’re not really going to end up there unless you really aren’t paying attention. I think IndyCar has been consistent with that. Not necessarily saying that I agree with it, but I do appreciate that they’re being consistent.”
Implications of Delayed Caution Calls for IndyCar Racing
The contrasting views between Colton Herta and Christian Lundgaard highlight the delicate balance IndyCar officials face when deciding the timing of full-course cautions. While delaying caution flags can maintain race rhythm and benefit fast drivers strategically, it simultaneously raises significant safety risks for competitors encountering stationary cars on the track.
As IndyCar continues to evolve with hybrid technologies and new safety protocols, the debate underscores the ongoing challenge of prioritizing safety without compromising competitive fairness. The incidents at Laguna Seca will likely prompt further discussions among teams, drivers, and officials about refinement of caution procedures to better protect all participants without altering race dynamics unfairly.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What happened to Colton Herta?
A. IndyCar driver Colton Herta escaped without injury after a major crash during Indianapolis 500 qualifying on Saturday morning. His car lost control in Turn 1 on his first lap, hit the outside wall, lifted off the ground, and flipped upside down.
Q. Will Colton Herta join F1?
A. Herta doesn’t yet have the required super license points to join Formula 1. Graeme Lowdon, who leads the American Cadillac F1 team, sees this team as Herta’s potential entry into F1. Despite this, he states that they are not planning to push or campaign for any rule changes for Herta.
Q. Is Colton Herta a good driver?
A. Colton Herta is an Indy 500 driver from Valencia, California. In 2024, he won two races in Toronto and Nashville. These victories brought his career total to nine wins out of 99 races. Additionally, he managed to secure six podium finishes and ranked second in the series points behind Alex Palou.
