Former IndyCar driver Colton Herta joined Andretti International earlier than the 2021 season after beforehand driving for Harding Steinbrenner Racing, which had an alliance with Andretti. Because the teenager made the transfer, his dad, Bryan Herta, was introduced as his race strategist. Colton’s dad just lately got here out and revealed the rationale behind their skilled cut up at Andretti.
Colton Herta got here to Andretti International as a prodigy difficult for the IndyCar title. Who higher than former IndyCar driver and his personal father, Bryan Herta, to be out within the place of calling the races for his son? Nevertheless, the father-son duo hadn’t achieved properly within the American open wheel racing collection up to now, with examples like Bobby-Graham Rahal.
After simply over a few years into the partnership because the race strategist and driver, Andretti International made the choice to separate the father-son duo. Only one race into the 203 season, Andretti determined to swap the race strategist of Kyle Kirkwood and Colton Herta.
Bryan Herta went to Kirkwood secure, and Scott Harner joined Colton’s aspect. The swap raised many eyebrows as to why the staff made the choice, particularly preserving in thoughts that each duos had been doing properly, and that Kirkwood had had Harner as his strategist since he raced for AJ Foyt Racing.
Colton Herta’s father, Bryan, just lately featured on the Racer’s Unchained podcast with Paul Tracy. The host questioned Bryan in regards to the skilled cut up and the rationale behind it, to which he replied,
“Finally, why I moved off of Colton’s radio was the Andretti guys thought it was going to be a greater transfer. They thought it will be higher to not have that distraction and never have that be a part of the story. It wasn’t one thing that Colton and I wished, however we additionally understood that it was nearly a weekly factor at that time, clips of Colton and I on the radio, and it wasn’t the place we wished to focus individuals’s consideration both.” (24:50 onwards)
“The staff stated, ‘this might be higher’ and we stated okay and went with it. That is why it finally ended. I used to be a bit unhappy about that, however I used to be additionally high quality as a result of I by no means wish to be able the place individuals are crediting Colton’s success to me or vice versa. It is essential for him to have his personal identification separate from me,” added Herta
How Colton Herta and Kyle Kirkwood reacted to the race strategist swap in 2023
Kyle Kirkwood made his IndyCar debut in 2022 with AFR with Scott Harner as his strategist. He moved to Andretti forward of the 2023 season. Nevertheless, only one race into the season, the staff determined to swap the strategist. Kirkwood got here out and reacted to the identical as he stated,
“I do not know what it’s with the household deal, I don’t know in the event that they wish to separate that, however they only stated this was finest for the staff they usually suppose it’s going to be actually good for me, they usually really feel Colton is prepared for Scott.”
Colton Herta recommended that the swap wasn’t required, however accepted the staff’s determination, as he stated,
“I don’t know why they modified it, however do I believe a wanted change would have modified the results of the race? No, It was a staff determination, that’s all I’m going to say.”
Nevertheless, Scott Harner solely stayed as Herta strategist for a number of races as Andretti made one other change halfway by the season, appointing Rob Edwards because the American’s strategist forward of the 2023 race at Mid-Ohio.
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Edited by Pranay Bhagi
