Colton Herta and the Andretti Global IndyCar team experienced a difficult weekend at the Iowa double-header last week, marked by multiple tire failures. However, Herta has now confidently dismissed any concerns about similar tire problems occurring during the upcoming Toronto race weekend, promising a fresh start with a different track setup and approach. The Colton Herta tire failure update brings hope to fans ahead of the remaining races in the 2025 IndyCar season.
Andretti Global Faces Tire Challenges at Iowa Speedway
During the Iowa double-header, all three Andretti Global drivers—Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, and Marcus Ericsson—suffered right front tire failures at some point. Herta’s experience was the most dramatic when a tire blowout in Race 2 caused him to crash into the barriers on the short oval track. This setback added to the challenges the team faced during the weekend, affecting their overall performance and morale.
Despite these issues, Herta remains optimistic as the team prepares for the Toronto race. Addressing the situation via social media, he stated,
“I mean, it sucks, I don’t like to think about it. Sure, makes me like annoyed, but you know, as far as what were the problems there, are there going to come into this weekend, there is almost zero percent chance. You know, such a different race, such a different setup, you know, get it all out of our system. Hopefully have more of an understanding, we still don’t know what happened. It was tough because it didn’t happen to anybody else, only us on Andretti. Something we’re definitely not taking lightly.” —Colton Herta, Andretti Global Driver
Current Standings and Performance Among Andretti Drivers
The 2025 IndyCar season is now 12 rounds in, with Colton Herta positioned ninth in the drivers‘ championship, having accumulated 244 points. His teammate Marcus Ericsson currently holds 20th place with 164 points, while Kyle Kirkwood stands strong in fourth place with 335 points. Kirkwood has also distinguished himself by winning three races this season, making him one of only two drivers — alongside Alex Palou, who holds seventh place — to have multiple victories so far.
Reflecting on a Difficult 2025 Season for Colton Herta
Herta has faced a frustrating campaign this year, struggling to match the strong performances of previous seasons. After finishing 20th in Race 2 at Iowa, falling out of the 275-lap race after completing 252 laps, his disappointment was clear in the post-race interviews. He acknowledged the season’s difficulties, saying,
“It’s been a pretty terrible year so far, and that just kind of sums it up for us. We had a right front tire failure. It’s not been fun this season to keep going out like this, but all we can do is go to the next one.” —Colton Herta, Andretti Global Driver
Meanwhile, Kirkwood and Ericsson finished 18th and 22nd respectively in the Iowa race, underscoring the challenging nature of the race weekend for the Andretti Global team.
Looking Ahead to the Final Stages of the Season
With only five Grand Prix events left in the 2025 IndyCar calendar, Herta is eager to end the season on a high note. His determination is fueled by his near-miss last season, when he finished second overall in the drivers‘ standings, just 31 points behind the champion Alex Palou. This motivates Herta to improve results and stabilize performance as he battles to climb the rankings.
Given the stark contrast between the Iowa losses and the anticipation for Toronto’s different race conditions, Herta’s confidence about avoiding tire failure issues provides a crucial boost for him and the Andretti Global team. Fans and team members alike will closely watch how this renewed focus translates on the track in the coming race weekend.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why isn’t Colton Herta in F1?
A. IndyCar driver Herta has been considered for a switch to F1 for a while. Helmut Marko wanted him in AlphaTauri in mid-2022. However, the FIA didn’t allow it because Herta didn’t have the needed 40 points for a super licence.