INDIANAPOLIS – Colton Herta has been deleted to drive in Indianapolis 500 on Saturday, the day after the flip ended in a startling crash. Driver Andretti Autosport walked out of the yard care center uninjured but needed further evaluation before being given the green light to race on Sunday.
Andretti Autosport posted Saturday on Twitter that Herta “has been officially medically licensed by IndyCar” to join the 500.
His collision on Friday with 25 minutes remaining on Carb Day destroyed car number 26 and forced his team to scramble to get a backup vehicle ready. He’ll start 25th in IndyCar’s flagship event.
The 22-year-old California player was speaking on team radio while his car was still rolling. When things stopped, his father, Bryan, called Herta to stay and stay until the emergency team could free him.
His father was his race strategist and immediately went to the Andretti garage to oversee preparations on the backup car.
Herta scored her first win of the IndyCar season earlier this month with an entertaining drive in the rain on the road at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Last year, Herta made it through to second qualifying for the Indy 500, starting at the top and leading 13 rounds before his tactics backfired and he faded to a disappointing 16th place.
