Colton Herta encountered an unusual spin that damaged the rear end of his No. 26 car during the first practice session at the Mid-Ohio race weekend. Reflecting on the incident, the 25-year-old driver expressed confusion over the crash, as the car appeared to spin independently without obvious cause.
Herta, one of nine drivers to have previously won at the 2.258-mile Mid-Ohio circuit, claimed his only victory there in 2020. Despite this success, the Andretti Autosport driver has faced a difficult start to the 2025 <a href="https://www.big14news.com/indycar/”>IndyCar season, managing just one podium finish in nine races and losing valuable chances to technical issues and misfortune.
Practice challenges continue with multiple track excursions and car damage
Arriving at the 13-turn Mid-Ohio road course with hopes of a strong result, Herta struggled to find reliable grip during the opening practice. He endured two off-track excursions, managing to escape harm the first time but crashing into the barriers on the second, which severely damaged his rear wing. Speaking about the crash, Herta said,
“When I lost it, yeah, it was just the rear right from turning. I don’t know, it just seemed like overall maybe a little bit low grip and really unforgiving. If you kind of charged in too hard or you really over slipped one end of the car, it seemed like a lot worse than normal. So it is, I think, maybe a little bit more challenging than before. I’m not sure why. That’s the way I feel.” —Colton Herta, IndyCar driver
Throughout his time at Mid-Ohio, Herta has accumulated one race win, two pole positions, and four top-10 finishes, establishing himself as a competitive contender on this circuit.
Mid-Ohio remains a favored track despite recent setbacks
Although Herta’s weekend began with difficulties, he managed to finish seventh in the first practice session. Meanwhile, his Andretti teammate Kyle Kirkwood led the timing charts, highlighting the team’s strong overall pace at Mid-Ohio ahead of race day.
Before the event, Herta emphasized his fondness for the Mid-Ohio Grand Prix, noting its energetic atmosphere and his desire to achieve a solid performance. He stated,
“It’s a track where I’ve had success, and I’m hoping to build on that this weekend in the Gainbridge Honda. The fans always show up in a big way over the Fourth of July weekend, and the energy they bring makes Mid-Ohio one of my favorites of the season.” —Colton Herta, IndyCar driver
Currently, Herta occupies tenth place in the 2025 championship standings as the season progresses into its second half, indicating there is still room to improve his campaign despite the recent troubles.
Implications of practice issues on Herta’s Mid-Ohio prospects
Colton Herta’s early crash and difficulties managing grip during practice pose challenges ahead of Sunday’s race. Given his past success at Mid-Ohio and Andretti’s competitive pace, overcoming this setback will be crucial if he hopes to regain momentum in a season marked by inconsistency. How the team addresses these car handling concerns will likely influence Herta’s ability to contend for another victory on this demanding circuit.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why isn’t Colton Herta in F1?
A. IndyCar driver Herta has been considered for a move to F1 for a while. Helmut Marko wanted him on the AlphaTauri team in mid-2022. However, the FIA denied him a super license because he didn’t reach the 40-point requirement.
