Colton Herta extended his remarkable qualifying streak in the 2025 IndyCar season by securing another top-three starting position during the Alabama Grand Prix qualifying session at Barber Motorsports Park. Despite his strong qualifying performances, the 25-year-old Andretti driver has struggled to translate this pace into race day success, facing various operational setbacks. Determined to reverse this pattern, Herta expressed his goal to “make magic happen” on Sunday and finally break his Sunday curse.
Starting the season with a front-row position in St. Petersburg, Colton Herta quickly established himself as a formidable threat in one-lap pace, consistently challenging the front runners. He repeated his front-row success in Long Beach and further cemented his qualifying prowess by reaching the Fast 6 at Alabama for the first time in his career, ultimately earning a top-three grid slot. His consistent performance highlights Herta’s ability to extract speed when it counts, a trait that has made him a frequent fixture near the front of the grid.
However, the real challenge has come when races begin, as Herta has encountered various issues that have prevented him from achieving strong Sunday results. Discussing the team’s efforts, he credited the Andretti squad for their relentless work in fine-tuning the car setup to find the ideal balance.
Our team has worked tirelessly to get me into a working window with the machinery,
Herta said in an interview with IndyCar, reflecting on the partnership that has helped maintain his qualifying momentum.
In Alabama, Herta’s qualifying time was just under two-tenths of a second shy of the pole, which went to Alex Palou. The Spaniard secured his first pole position of the season by narrowly surpassing Scott McLaughlin’s provisional top time. With two wins already this year, Palou aims to build on his championship lead and mount a strong title defense as the season progresses.
Colton Herta’s average qualifying position stands at 2.75 this season, a testament to his speed and consistency. As he prepares for the race ahead, fans and analysts alike are eager to see if this determined driver can finally turn his strong qualifying showings into race day success. With a blend of confidence, skill, and a supportive team behind him, Herta’s pursuit to rewrite his Sunday story adds an exciting layer to the 2025 IndyCar season.
