Coming off of a strong 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season complete with a third-place championship finish, a win, a pole and leading the charge for an all-Andretti podium sweep at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Colton Herta is poised to make another championship run in 2021 for Andretti Autosport.
“I absolutely believe we can win the championship in 2021 and we showed glimpses last year of what could have been. If I didn’t have that slip-up at Iowa we would’ve been in a really good position for the championship hunt going into that last round,” said Herta reflecting on his 2020 season. “The biggest thing we need to do is just win more races and if we aren’t winning races we need to be on the podium. That’s kind of been the trend for the last few years for the guys who have won the championship and we need to get there this season.”
During the offseason, Herta transitioned within the team to pilot Andretti Autosport’s No. 26 Gainbridge Honda. This season will be Herta’s third year of NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition and will mark the fourth year of sponsorship for Group 1001 under the Gainbridge brand, and a fifth season overall. Gainbridge is a digital platform providing simple and direct access to trusted financial products to help clients grow their money for goals big and small, not just for retirement.
“Colton
has quickly shown in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES that talent and drive produce
winning results. Gainbridge is proud to align with Colton and Andretti
Autosport to represent our brand and values,” said Dan Towriss, CEO and
President, Group1001 and the Gainbridge brand. “Winning demands consistency and
the confidence and consistency demonstrated by Colton makes him a great fit to
represent Group1001 and Gainbridge. Additionally, we look forward to remaining
part of the Andretti Autosport family where we can accelerate the No. 26
Gainbridge Honda program.”
In 2019, Herta broke two NTT INDYCAR
SERIES records by being the youngest race winner, just under a week shy of his
19th birthday, on the Circuit of the Americas road course and the youngest pole
winner, after turning 19, at Road America. In just three seasons, he has
recorded three wins, four poles, 10 top-five finishes, and 19 top-10 results.
“I like to see progress every year in myself, more so on the championship side of things,” Herta said. “I’d like to make a true run for the championship down to the wire this season and have the ability to truly win it. That’s my goal. That’s the team’s goal. Obviously alongside that, winning the Indy 500 and putting a lot of resources and time towards that while also cutting out the mistakes. We want to turn those fourth and fifth-place finishes that we had last year into podiums and wins.”
The fight for the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship begins Sunday, April 18 with the Honda Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park live on NBC at 3 p.m. ET.