YOUNGEST EVER INDYCAR WINNER AT COTA

Colton Herta takes first Indycar win at the Circuit of the Americas – Photo: LAT

Colton Herta became the youngest driver to win an IndyCar event when he took the checkered flag at the inaugural race at the Circuit of The Americas.

The beneficiary of an opportune full-course caution period, Herta led the final 15 laps and won by 2.7182 seconds over Josef Newgarden.

At 18 years, 11 months, 25 days old, the second-generation driver became the youngest to ever win an Indy car race, breaking the mark previously held by Graham Rahal, who was 19 years, 3 months, 2 days when he won at St. Petersburg in 2008.

Herta was humbled to join the list of Indy car race winners that includes his father, Bryan, who won four times in a 12-year Indy car career and is now co-owner and race strategist for the car driven by Marco Andretti.

“Just to be up with the names of people that have won (a) race, I’m going to live and die an Indy car winner, which is spectacular in itself,” said Herta.

“Yeah, it’s a great record at a young age. To be standing up here kind of feels surreal.”

“We were not expecting (to win). I think we were going to get a podium (top-three finish) – I think we had the pace for that – but holy crap, man! … It’s spectacular!”

Will Power started from pole a lead the race at the start – Photo: LAT

Pole sitter Will Power dominated the first three-quarters of the race, leading every lap under green-flag conditions until the only full-course yellow waved on Lap 44 after James Hinchcliffe and Felix Rosenqvist made contact, sending the latter’s car careening into the barrier on the inside of Turn 19 at the entrance to pit lane.

Fortunately for Herta, he’d made his final scheduled pit stop a lap earlier under green. Race leader Power, second-place Alexander Rossi and third-place Scott Dixon were forced to make their final stops under yellow after the field packed up behind the pace car.

Once that trio headed to the pits, Herta assumed the lead for the first time in his brief NTT IndyCar Series career. Holding off Newgarden on the Lap 50 restart, Herta pulled away to the history-making victory.

“On the restart, we were quick,” Herta said. “We kind of sprinted off. I know we got the quickest lap on that first lap, which was pretty crazy to have the tires up to temp and everything ready.”

Power’s misfortune of seeing the late caution period ruin his chance for a win was compounded during his pit stop. The drive shaft broke on his No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet as he attempted to leave the pit stall, relegating the reigning Indianapolis 500 winner to finish last in the 24-car field.

“I just released the clutch snap and I could kind of hear it grinding together,” said a dejected Power. “I’m massively disappointed, man.”

“You lead so many laps and work so hard all weekend to put yourself in position (to win). If the yellow didn’t get us, the drive shaft did. Another hole at the beginning of the season.”

“But the guys have done a great job. We’re quick every weekend. Oh, I just want to have a good run, man. I just want to have a normal run in a season without this sort of crap.”

The next NTT IndyCar Series race is the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park on Sunday, April 7.

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