IndyCar: 10 things that point to Colton Herta contending for 2020 title

IndyCar: 10 things that signal Colton Herta contending for 2020 title

By Asher Fair | Mar 13, 2020

MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Colton Herta #88 of United States and Capstone Turbine Honda reacts after winning the pole position during qualifying for the NTT IndyCar Series Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on September 21, 2019 in Monterey, California. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

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AUSTIN, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 11: Colton Herta, driver of the #98 US Concrete Honda (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

Positives (continued)

4. Move up to Andretti Autosport

This one speaks for itself. Yes, Herta was already practically a teammate to the four Andretti Autosport drivers in 2019, but the fact is, he was still driving for a Harding Steinbrenner Racing team that almost had to shut down before season ended. This is undoubtedly a step up.

5. Alexander Rossi

During Alexander Rossi’s first two seasons in IndyCar at Andretti Autosport, you could tell that he was going to be a star. He proved that right in the next two seasons, finishing runner-up in the 2018 championship standings and third in the 2019 standings. Herta’s rookie season featured as many victories as Rossi’s first two seasons combined.

6. Momentum

After the first 14 races of the 2019 season, Herta sat in 14th place in the championship standings. He had led just 15 laps, the 15 laps he led en route to winning at Circuit of the Americas. In the final three races of the season, he led laps in each one, and he launched himself into seventh in the standings (13th to seventh in the season finale alone). With two races remaining, he had one career top five finish. He tripled that while doubling his career win total.