Bryan Herta

Bryan John Herta (born May 23, 1970, in Warren, Michigan) is an American race car driver. He currently runs his own team, Bryan Herta Autosport in the NTT IndyCar Series. His team won the 2011 Indianapolis 500 with driver Dan Wheldon and the 2016 Indianapolis 500 with driver Alexander Rossi. He is the father of IndyCar Series driver Colton Herta.

Bryan Herta
Bryan Herta at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2004.
Nationality American
Born (1970-05-23) May 23, 1970
Warren, Michigan, U.S.
Indy Racing League IndyCar Series
Years active2003–2006
TeamsAndretti Green Racing
Starts58
Wins2
Poles3
Best finish8th in 2005
CART Championship Car
Years active1994–2001, 2003
TeamsA. J. Foyt Enterprises
Chip Ganassi Racing
Team Rahal
Walker Racing
Mo Nunn Racing
Zakspeed/Forsythe Racing
PK Racing
Starts121
Wins2
Poles7
Best finish8th in 1996 & 1998
Previous series
2005–2006
1992–1993
1990–1991
A1 Grand Prix
Indy Lights
Barber Saab Pro Series
Championship titles
1993
1991
Indy Lights champion
Barber Saab Pro Series champion

Racing career

CART/Champ Cars/IndyCars

Bryan Herta driving for Team Rahal at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 1996

Herta enjoyed considerable success in the lower formulae, winning the Barber Formula Ford and Barber Saab Pro Series, and dominating the 1993 Indy Lights championship with Tasman Motorsports.

He graduated to IndyCar racing in 1994 with team owner A. J. Foyt, where he had several promising races before suffering a season-ending injury at Toronto.

In 1995, Herta was hired to drive for Chip Ganassi Racing. Despite a pole at Phoenix, the association was unsuccessful, with Herta managing only a 20th place in the series standings while his teammate Jimmy Vasser finished 8th. Even so, Herta landed a top ride with Team Rahal for the 1996 season.

During the next few years, Herta developed a reputation for his prowess on road courses, especially at Laguna Seca Raceway. In 1996, he was the leader until the last lap, when Alex Zanardi made the spectacular pass through the "Corkscrew" chicane and took the victory. Herta, who rarely qualified below the first row at Laguna Seca, finally won two events on the twisty road course in 1998 and 1999. At the height of Herta's career, fan interest in the Shell-sponsored driver was dubbed by team owner David Letterman as "Hertamania."

Bryan Herta's #77 Forsythe Championship Racing car in 2001

In the opening laps of the 1998 event at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin's Road America circuit, Herta was involved in one of the scariest incidents in the history of North American motor racing. In the 4-mile (6.4 km) road course's fifth turn, Herta got too close to the back of the car of co-owner Rahal, and spun out into a paved runoff area, facing oncoming traffic. A few seconds later, an ESPN camera that had zoomed in on Herta's head pulled back when Herta clenched his fists and put them against the sides of his head. As course workers scattered, Alex Barron slid into the front of Herta's car and rode up on top of it. Both drivers were okay. Herta reported that Barron's car had actually hit his hands, only inches from his face.

From 2000 to 2003, Herta drove for a variety of Champ Car teams including Forsythe Championship Racing, Mo Nunn Racing, and PK Racing, but never quite regained his form from the late 1990s. In 2002 Herta drove an F1 car for the first time, piloting a Minardi at the "Thunder in the Park" event held at Donington Park. This led to speculation that he would test and even race for Minardi in F1, however this never happened.

IRL IndyCar Series

After dabbling in sports cars, he revitalized his open-wheel racing career by substituting for an injured Dario Franchitti halfway through the 2003 IRL season.

In just his third IRL start, Herta picked up his first IndyCar Series win at Kansas Speedway for Andretti Green Racing. He was retained in an expanded four-car squad in 2004, usually running development engines. On July 31, 2005, Herta took his second IndyCar Series win, defeating AGR teammate Dan Wheldon in a close finish in the Firestone Indy 400 at the Michigan International Speedway.

In early 2006, he drove at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Fundidora Park for A1 Team USA in the A1 Grand Prix series before returning to Andretti Green for the IRL season.

As of 2006, Herta has started in the Indianapolis 500 five times (1994–1995, 2004–2006) with three top ten finishes, including a best of 3rd in 2005. Bryan has his helmets painted by AliveDesignCo.com

Sports cars

On October 31, 2006, Herta was confirmed as a driver for Andretti Green Racing's new Acura Le Mans prototype program for the 2007 American Le Mans Series season. He shared the car with Marino Franchitti, brother of his former teammate Dario Franchitti. On January 3, 2007, it was announced that Dario would also drive a limited ALMS programme with both Marino and Herta. Herta finished the season 7th in driver points with 1 class win. He also drove for A1 Team USA. At the event in Australia, Herta scored a 10th-place finish.

After racing

Since retiring from racing, Herta served as a driver coach for Vision Racing and founded a Firestone Indy Lights Series team named Bryan Herta Autosport, which has a technical alliance with Vision Racing's Indy Lights team. In 2009, the team fielded a full-time entry for Daniel Herrington. The team campaigned Sebastián Saavedra for eleven races of the 2010 Firestone Indy Lights season and the Indianapolis 500. In 2011 the team fielded a car for Dan Wheldon in the 2011 Indianapolis 500 which resulted in a stunning victory, and a full-time entry in Indy Lights for Duarte Ferreira.

For the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season, Alex Tagliani ran the 500. The team switched to a Honda powered DW12 in May 2012 for the remainder of the season.

In 2016 Herta partnered with Michael Andretti as a co-owner and won the 2016 Indianapolis 500. Their car was driven by series rookie Alexander Rossi.

Herta's son, Colton, is also a racing driver, and made his IndyCar debut in 2019 with Harding Steinbrenner Racing. In March 2019, Colton became the youngest ever IndyCar winner in the second round at the Circuit of the Americas.[1]

Personal life

Herta has two children with his wife Janette, Colton and Calysta.[2]

Career racing results

American Open Wheel

(key)

Indy Lights

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
1992 Landford Racing PHX
16
LBH
13
DET
7
POR
7
MIL
6
NHA
4
TOR
1
CLE
2
VAN
5
MDO
4
NAZ
3
LS
2
5th 120
1993 Tasman Motorsports PHX
2
LBH
3
MIL
1
DET
2
POR
4
CLE
1
TOR
1
NHA
13
VAN
1
MDO
1
NAZ
1
LS
1
1st 213

CART results

Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Rank Points
1994 A. J. Foyt Enterprises Lola T94/00 Ford XB V8t SRF PHX LBH INDY
9
MIL
10
DET
9
POR
27
CLE
13
TOR
DNS
MIS MDO NHM VAN ROA NZR LS 23rd 11
1995 Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard 95i Ford XB V8t MIA
10
SRF
15
PHX
20
LBH
26
NZR
23
INDY
13
MIL
24
DET
27
POR
26
ROA
14
TOR
27
CLE
2
MIS
15
MDO
5
NHM
19
VAN
16
LS
25
20th 30
1996 Team Rahal Reynard 96i Mercedes-Benz IC108C V8t MIA
10
RIO
13
SRF
17
LBH
12
NZR
11
500
15
MIL
14
DET
13
POR
26
CLE
5
TOR
6
MIS
2
MDO
4
ROA
5
VAN
6
LS
2
8th 86
1997 Team Rahal Reynard 97i Ford XD V8t MIA
10
SRF
22
LBH
6
NZR
7
RIO
6
STL
22
MIL
15
DET
7
POR
21
CLE
3
TOR
17
MIS
5
MDO
24
ROA
11
VAN
8
LS
6
FON
21
11th 72
1998 Team Rahal Reynard 98i Ford XD V8t MIA
8
MOT
28
LBH
3
NZR
8
RIO
4
STL
23
MIL
11
DET
21
POR
3
CLE
13
TOR
5
MIS
10
MDO
25
ROA
23
VAN
22
LS
1*
HOU
8
SRF
10
FON
15
8th 97
1999 Team Rahal Reynard 99i Ford XD V8t MIA
12
MOT
23
LBH
3
NZR
22
RIO
13
STL
23
MIL
25
POR
6
CLE
6
ROA
15
TOR
15
MIS
20
DET
9
MDO
21
CHI
8
VAN
24
LS
1*
HOU
5
SRF
4
FON
14
12th 84
2000 Walker Racing Reynard 2Ki Honda HR-0 V8t MIA LBH
5
RIO
20
MOT NZR MIL DET 18th 26
Mo Nunn Racing Mercedes-Benz IC108F V8t POR
16
CLE
9
TOR
18
MIS CHI MDO ROA VAN
Forsythe Championship Racing Ford XF V8t LS
4
STL HOU SRF FON
2001 Zakspeed
Forsythe Championship Racing
Reynard 01i Ford XF V8t MTY
16
LBH
10
TXS
NH
NZR
21
MOT
21
MIL
22
DET
15
POR
14
CLE
3
TOR
18
22nd 28
Forsythe Championship Racing MIS
5
CHI
21
MDO
25
ROA
24
VAN
17
LAU
27
ROC
15
HOU
13
LS
12
SRF
18
FON
25
2003 PK Racing Lola B02/00 Ford XFE V8t STP MTY LBH BRH LAU MIL LS
11
POR CLE TOR VAN ROA MDO MTL DEN MIA MXC SRF 25th 2

CART career summary

Year Team Wins Points Championship Finish
1994 A.J. Foyt Enterprises 0 11 23rd
1995 Chip Ganassi Racing 0 30 20th
1996 Team Rahal 0 86 8th
1997 Team Rahal 0 72 11th
1998 Team Rahal 1 97 8th
1999 Team Rahal 1 84 12th
2000 Forsythe/Walker/Mo Nunn 0 26 18th
2001 Forsythe Championship Racing 0 28 22nd
2003 PK Racing 0 2 25th

2 wins, Best championship result: 8th

IndyCar Series results

Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points
2003 Andretti Green Racing Dallara IR-03 Honda HI3R V8 HMS PHX MOT INDY
Inj
TXS
5
PPIR RIR
14
KAN
1
NSH
12
MIS
19
STL
21
KTY
3
NZR
3
CHI
3
FON
22
TX2
5
13th 277
2004 Andretti Green Racing Dallara IR-04 Honda HI4R V8 HMS
13
PHX
7
MOT
14
INDY
4
TXS
19
RIR
4
KAN
5
NSH
18
MIL
9
MIS
6
KTY
9
PPIR
9
NZR
8
CHI
2
FON
17
TX2
16
9th 362
2005 Andretti Green Racing Dallara IR-05 Honda HI5R V8 HMS
14
PHX
7
STP
4
MOT
5
INDY
3
TXS
10
RIR
8
KAN
15
NSH
22
MIL
6
MIS
1
KTY
19
PPIR
12
SNM
13
CHI
14
WGL
8
FON
11
8th 397
2006 Andretti Green Racing Dallara IR-05 Honda HI6R V8 HMS
13
STP
4
MOT
6
INDY
20
WGL
13
TXS
11
RIR
6
KAN
13
NSH
11
MIL
7
MIS
11
KTY
10
SNM
10
CHI
15
11th 289

IndyCar Series career summary

Year Team Wins Points Championship Finish
2003 Andretti Green Racing 1 277 13th
2004 Andretti Green Racing 0 362 9th
2005 Andretti Green Racing 1 397 8th
2006 Andretti Green Racing 0 289 11th

2 wins, best championship result: 8th

Indianapolis 500

Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
1994 Lola T94/00 Ford XB V8t 22 9 A.J. Foyt Enterprises
1995 Reynard 95i Ford XB V8t 33 13 Chip Ganassi Racing
2003 Dallara IR-03 Honda HI3R V8 Injured Andretti Green Racing
2004 Dallara IR-04 Honda HI4R V8 23 4 Andretti Green Racing
2005 Dallara IR-05 Honda HI5R V8 18 3 Andretti Green Racing
2006 Dallara IR-05 Honda HI6R V8 16 20 Andretti Green Racing

Complete American Le Mans Series results

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine Tyres 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
2002 Panoz Motor Sports LMP900 Panoz LMP01 Evo Élan 6L8 6.0L V8 M SEB
ovr:8
cls:7
SON
ovr:3
cls:3
MID
ovr:4
cls:4
AME
ovr:Ret
cls:Ret
WAS
ovr:6
cls:6
TRO
ovr:4
cls:4
MOS
ovr:5
cls:5
MON
ovr:6
cls:6
MIA
ovr:11
cls:8
PET
ovr:5
cls:5
10th 153
2003 Team Nasamax LMP900 Reynard 01Q Cosworth XDE 2.6L Turbo V8
(Bio-ethanol)
G SEB
ovr:Ret
cls:Ret
ATL SON TRO MOS AME MON MIA PET NC 0
2007 Andretti Green Racing LMP2 Acura ARX-01a Acura 3.4L V8 M SEB
ovr:2
cls:1
STP
ovr:21
cls:7
LNB
ovr:6
cls:6
TEX
ovr:2
cls:2
UTA
ovr:Ret
cls:Ret
LIM
ovr:7
cls:6
MID
ovr:10
cls:7
AME
ovr:9
cls:7
MOS
ovr:5
cls:3
DET
ovr:19
cls:8
PET
ovr:Ret
cls:Ret
MON
ovr:6
cls:4
13th 98
2008 Andretti Green Racing LMP2 Acura ARX-01b Acura 3.4L V8 M SEB
ovr:18
cls:6
STP
ovr:6
cls:5
LNB
ovr:6
cls:4
UTA
ovr:8
cls:7
LIM MID AME MOS DET PET MON 24th 38

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2002 Panoz Motor Sports David Brabham
Jan Magnussen
Panoz LMP01 Evo LMP900 90 DNF DNF

Complete A1 Grand Prix results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 DC Points
2005–06 USA GBR
SPR
GBR
FEA
GER
SPR
GER
FEA
POR
SPR
POR
FEA
AUS
SPR
15
AUS
FEA
10
MYS
SPR
10
MYS
FEA
7
UAE
SPR
UAE
FEA
RSA
SPR
RSA
FEA
IDN
SPR
IDN
FEA
MEX
SPR
6
MEX
FEA
13
USA
SPR
9
USA
FEA
Ret
CHN
SPR
CHN
FEA
16th 23

References

  1. Malsher, David (March 24, 2019). "COTA IndyCar: Herta becomes series' youngest ever winner". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  2. http://news.honda.com/newsandviews/article.aspx?id=2003101032315
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Rob Wilson
Barber Saab Pro Series Champion
1991
Succeeded by
Robert Amren
Preceded by
Robbie Buhl
Indy Lights Champion
1993
Succeeded by
Steve Robertson
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