Colton Herta and the Andretti Global IndyCar team experienced a very difficult race weekend at the Iowa Speedway double-header, facing multiple tire failures. Despite this, Herta has confidently stated that tire troubles will not be a factor at the upcoming Toronto race weekend, expressing optimism about the new event.
During the Iowa races, all three Andretti Global drivers—Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, and Marcus Ericsson—suffered right front tire blowouts at some point. Herta’s tire failure during Race 2 led to a crash where his car hit the barriers on the short oval track, contributing to a disappointing outing. However, looking ahead, Herta commented on the situation via Bob Pockrass on X, saying,
“I mean, it sucks, I don’t like to think about it. Sure, makes me like annoyed, but you know, as far as what were the problems there, are there going to come into this weekend, there is almost zero percent chance. You know, such a different race, such a different setup, you know, get it all out of our system. Hopefully have more of an understanding, we still don’t know what happened. It was tough because it didn’t happen to anybody else, only us on Andretti. Something we’re definitely not taking lightly.”
—Colton Herta, IndyCar Driver
This reassurance highlights Herta’s focus on moving past the Iowa difficulties and adapting quickly to Toronto’s distinct racing conditions.
Current Standings Reflect Mixed Results for Andretti Global Drivers
After 12 rounds of the 2025 IndyCar season, Colton Herta sits ninth in the driver standings with 244 points. His teammate Marcus Ericsson currently holds the 20th position with 164 points, while Kyle Kirkwood is performing strongly in fourth place, having accumulated 335 points.
Kirkwood stands out as one of the few drivers besides Alex Palou who has earned multiple race wins this season, with three victories under his belt. The gap between the Andretti Global teammates highlights varying degrees of success within the team during this campaign.
Herta Describes 2025 Season as Challenging and Frustrating
Colton Herta has openly acknowledged the difficulties he has faced this season, summarizing his experience as disappointing. After finishing 20th in the 275-lap Race 2 at Iowa following the tire failure-induced crash, Herta revealed his frustration during a post-race interview:
“It’s been a pretty terrible year so far, and that just kind of sums it up for us. We had a right front tire failure. It’s not been fun this season to keep going out like this, but all we can do is go to the next one.”
—Colton Herta, IndyCar Driver
The struggles at Iowa were mirrored by his teammates’ results, with Kyle Kirkwood finishing 18th and Marcus Ericsson in 22nd place in the same race.
Looking Ahead to Remaining IndyCar Events
With only five Grand Prix races left in the 2025 IndyCar calendar, Herta is focused on ending the challenging year on a stronger note. Last season, he finished second in the overall standings, narrowly trailing Alex Palou by 31 points, so the pressure to rebound is high.
The significance of Herta’s tire failure update cannot be overstated, as it reassures fans and the team that the issues experienced in Iowa are unlikely to carry over into the Toronto race weekend. His cautious but determined approach reflects both the serious nature of the recent setbacks and a resolve to avoid repeating them in the crucial closing stage of the season.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why isn’t Colton Herta in F1?
A. IndyCar driver Herta has been considered for a switch to Formula 1. Helmut Marko wanted him in AlphaTauri during mid-2022. However, the FIA declined because Herta didn’t have the necessary 40 points for a super license.
