Since Al Jr retired, I haven't really had a "friend" behind the wheel of an IndyCar. I don't even think I "know" any of the drivers now; none of them would remember "Doogie," a 15-year-old working on Penske's software because I was 15 over 30 years ago. I'm an old man now!
My son became an IndyCar fan on August 7th, 2022 when he went to his first IndyCar race, the Music City Grand Prix in Nashville. Despite a win by Scott Dixon there (and Herta's teammate, Kyle Kirkwood winning his first oval at Ben's second race at Gateway in 2025), Ben started watching IndyCar and Formula 1 with me last season on TV, but he didn't become a real fan until we watched the Nashville oval race and I showed him the pictures from his race (when he was four) of being at Nashville for the street race. Colton won that race (ironically his first oval win), and Ben asked if he was good. I fired up Peacock and replayed him the 2022 Indy Grand Prix, where Colton got sideways in the wet and drove it like Ayrton would have. Ben loved it. Became a fan of Colton's. Still is (see picture above.)
I think what Colton is doing for 2027 and beyond is awesome. I'm a huge fan of his too. Like any good Californian, my loyalties in IndyCar are now with Rossi.
But I hope Colton takes advantage of this year big. Sebring. Daytona 24. Petit Le Mans. A full Formula 2 schedule.
Unfortunately, he can't do LeMans because of Barcelona.
But there's a massive gap from April 19th to June 12th in the Formula 2 schedule, where the Cadillac F1 team he's a test driver for will be in North America.
A Cadillac F1 team ran by Dan Towriss. So, Colton will probably be in North America from before the Miami Grand Prix festivities start on May 1st through the Montreal Grand Prix on May 24th. Incidentally working for a Cadillac F1 team headquartered in Fishers, Indiana, still owned by Andretti Global, owner of the IndyCar team.
An IndyCar team with an available seat now that Marco Andretti has retired.
This is possibly Colton's last chance at the Indianapolis 500 for a while. In a very competitive car. And he's open to it.
So, I'm predicting it now: 2026 Indianapolis 500, car #98 will be driven by Colton Herta. He'll participate in almost the entire Month of May proceedings at the track (possibly even the Grand Prix) as it doesn't conflict with any of his responsibilities to Hitech F2, Cadillac F1, Wayne Taylor's IMSA operations, and is in a TWG Motorsports owned car. The "appearances" of being a Cadillac (GM) aligned driver driving for Honda seems absurd; its still TWG Motorsports (Cadillac F1 and Andretti Global's IndyCar operation), and the Cadillac F1 car in 2026 is a Ferrari anyway. Plus, wouldn't shock me if Andretti Global is Chevrolet in 2027 at the latest.