Colton Herta was on his strategy to profitable his second consecutive IndyCar Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside final weekend. However he crashed out attempting to chase down Álex Palou and eventual winner Josef Newgarden, in an error which drew fast comparisons together with his retirement from final yr’s race in Nashville following a dominant drive.
Herta didn’t mince his phrases after crashing out on the 56th lap. “It’s only a silly mistake,” he instructed NBC.
“I simply braked somewhat bit too late, acquired in there, locked the entrance entrance and that’s it.”
Herta set a brand new Lengthy Seaside observe report in qualifying and led the opening 28 laps of the race earlier than making his first pit cease. That dropped him again behind Palou and Newgarden to 3rd place.
“We have been undoubtedly in that factor,” stated Herta, “we have been working good there in third, and maintaining with Alex and Josef so it’s unlucky. I really feel actually dangerous.”
Eight months in the past in Nashville, Herta dominated proceedings early, main 39 laps earlier than ending up behind Marcus Ericsson after the final spherical of pit stops. He crashed out with six laps to go whereas chasing his Ganassi rival.
Herta’s seemingly impervious type at his residence race hit an early snag when Newgarden left the pits forward of him on lap 30. Defending IndyCar champion Palou acquired previous the pair of them by pitting two laps earlier than Herta.
“I used to be stunned – I didn’t understand how that occurred, so we’ll must look somewhat bit extra into that,” stated Herta. “However the automobile was implausible. My engineer Nathan [O’Rourke] gave me an awesome automobile. I simply overdid it a bit right this moment.”
His group mate Romain Grosjean went on to complete second, scoring Andretti Autosport’s first podium of 2022.
After three races, Herta is eleventh within the IndyCar drivers’ standings heading into the upcoming spherical at Barber Motorsports Park on 1 Might.
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