Colton Herta has shared a critical update on the deteriorating condition of the Laguna Seca circuit, which hosts the IndyCar Grand Prix of Monterey. Following Friday’s practice session where he ranked second behind Pato O’Ward, the Andretti Global driver expressed frustration over the track’s poor grip and damaged surface.
Herta Highlights Severe Track Damage and Reduced Grip at Laguna Seca
After practice 1 at the 2.268-mile, 11-turn Laguna Seca road course, Herta described the track as being badly worn, comparing it to a surface mauled by wild dogs during the offseason. He emphasized the unusually low grip available this year, which contrasts sharply with previous seasons. This poor condition caused problems for several drivers, most notably Alexander Rossi of ECR, who lost control at Turn 6 and crashed into the barriers during the session.
In a post-practice press conference, Herta illustrated the track’s condition vividly:
“Yes, the grip level is down quite a bit. This track, it seems like a northern California thing where it’s like Sonoma, and this place, they just get chewed up. It’s like they have a pack of rottweilers out on the track in the off-season, just tearing up the track. Literally, the apex, the corners, it just looked chewed up and beat up.”
—Colton Herta, Andretti Global driver
Despite his strong criticism, Herta acknowledged that the rough surface may bring some benefits, such as encouraging tire degradation, which could make races more engaging and strategic.
“It’s kind of needed here because I think the racing is very stale without tire deg. I think the races in ’22 and ’23 before the repave were better races — sorry, ’22 and before that were better races. I think it’s going to be more catered to that type of race.”
—Colton Herta, Andretti Global driver
Laguna Seca was repaved in 2023 before reintroducing IndyCar and other racing series. The 2025 Grand Prix of Monterey at the circuit will be sponsored by Java House, a key backer of ECR.
Herta Remains Cautious About 2025 Laguna Seca Prospects Despite Past Success
Colton Herta has a notable record at Laguna Seca, being the only track where he has secured multiple IndyCar wins, triumphing first as a rookie in 2019 and again in 2021. Last year, he finished second behind Alex Palou, demonstrating his strong performance on this challenging road course.
Nonetheless, Herta urges restraint and avoids overconfidence heading into the upcoming race weekend, recognizing the intense competition on the grid.
“You never know if you’re going to be good year to year. This is definitely a place that has been really kind to me in the past, but it’s too competitive to have the arrogance that you think you’re just going to arrive and be just as good as last year,”
—Colton Herta, Andretti Global driver
Herta arrives at the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey following a tough outing at the recent Indy Toronto race. Despite securing pole position, he was pushed back to the midfield early on due to poorly timed caution flags but fought back to finish in fourth place.
The current state of Laguna Seca, combined with Herta’s experience and caution, sets the stage for a potentially unpredictable and physically demanding race weekend. The track’s compromised surface will likely test drivers’ skill in managing tire wear and maintaining control on the chewed-up corners, influencing race outcomes and team strategies alike.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What happened to Colton Herta?
A. IndyCar racer Colton Herta walked away unharmed after a serious crash during Indianapolis 500 qualifying on Saturday morning. His car lost control exiting Turn 1 on the first lap, hit the outside wall, and flipped upside down.
Q. Will Colton Herta join F1?
A. Herta doesn’t have enough super license points to qualify for Formula 1. Graeme Lowdon is the team principal of the all-American Cadillac F1 team, which is seen as Herta’s route to entering Formula 1. Lowdon says that neither he nor the team plans to push for a rule change that would assist Herta in this matter.
Q. Is Colton Herta a good driver?
A. Colton Herta races for Andretti Global in the Indy 500. He comes from Valencia, California.
In 2024, Colton achieved two race wins, one in Toronto and the other in Nashville. This brought his total career wins to nine out of 99 races.
He finished on the podium six times and placed second to Alex Palou in the series points.
