Following the NTT IndyCar opener Andretti Autosport made a decision to swap the strategists of two of their cars.
Colton Herta will lose his father, Bryan Herta, as his race strategist as he moves over to the No. 27 of Kyle Kirkwood. Meanwhile Scott Harner will move over to the No. 26.
Interviewed at Texas Motor Speedway, Colton Herta did not seem all too pleased by the teams decision to remove his father from his pit box.
“It wasn’t my decision,” said the 23-year-old who has seven wins in IndyCar. “I obey their orders and what they want to do.”
Herta finished seventh or better in the IndyCar standings from 2019 though 2021 while scoring six of his career wins. While Herta scored his seventh career win last season he finished 10th in the standings and was largely an afterthought as the season moved on despite being one of the early season favorites.
In the season opener in St. Petersburg the younger Herta finished 20th.
There have been some interesting conversations between the father and son duo over the years which has made for both comedy and frustration.
It’s an interesting family dynamic at the No. 26 team.
Listen to some radio moments between driver Colton Herta and his dad and team strategist Bryan Herta in recent races. #INDYCAR pic.twitter.com/ugYXLAefVq
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) August 6, 2022
Herta signed an extension with Andretti Autosport last fall that will see him with the team though 2027 along with sponsor Gainbridge.
It will be interesting to see how the switch affects both Herta and Kirkwood. The first IndyCar race since the switch takes place this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.
