What can IndyCar fans learn from the IndyCar Classic? Here are takeaways from the second race of the 2019 IndyCar season.
The 2019 IndyCar Classic is in the books, and NTT IndyCar Series fans have enjoyed their first ever event at Circuit of the Americas. The league ventured to the Austin, Texas, track that’s played host to a number of other motorsports series and fit right in, delivering a historic show.
New team Harding Steinbrenner Racing surprised motorsports fans by earning their first win on the shoulders of teenage sensation Colton Herta. Benefiting from a yellow flag, Herta took his fast car and became the youngest winner in series history.
But Herta’s victory wasn’t the only thing worth talking about from the latest IndyCar race. There were plenty of storylines on and off track at Circuit of the Americas, and there’s a lot to unpack in looking at the entirety of this event — and looking toward the future.
Don’t get too hyped about Colton Herta
Colton Herta has immediately jumped into the national spotlight by winning the IndyCar Classic, which was only his third IndyCar race ever. There’s no denying that he’s got fantastic talent, and he has an incredible upside still being a teenager.
But let’s not anoint him the next superstar just yet. NBCSN’s broadcasters were thoroughly praising Herta well before he ever got into the lead, and though he snagged the win, this is still just one race where he also benefited from a fair amount of luck. If fellow rookie Felix Rosenqvist hadn’t brought out the yellow flag and caught out the race leaders, viewers would probably be talking about Alexander Rossi today instead of Herta.
That’s not to say Herta didn’t accomplish something impressive on Sunday. It’s just worth keeping what he did in perspective. Racing fans and analysts alike have talked up a number of talents over the years, and they don’t always pan out. Last season, everyone was talking about how fast Ed Jones was and how he had the potential to make a splash at Chip Ganassi Racing; this season, he isn’t even running a full season at Ed Carpenter Racing.
Colton Herta is on his path to NTT IndyCar Series success, but this is just the first step. Let’s allow him to develop at his own pace, and not lay out superstar expectations for a driver who’s just in his first season and should be tremendous fun to watch.