The knock on the Andretti Global team was that it kept robbing Colton Herta of quality results due to errors in race strategy. Team COO Rob Edwards was duly installed as Herta’s new strategist in the summer of 2023, and since then, the kid from California and his play caller from the United Kingdom have made for an effective duo.
Herta charged into the new season with a renewed focus and his results reflected the shift in Herta’s approach as he took 14 finishes inside the top eight along with two victories and two poles, which vaulted the 24-year-old to second in the championship, his best in six seasons of NTT IndyCar Series racing.
With the victory at Nashville Speedway, he’s earned nine career victories and his first on an oval, adding to the numerous road and street race victories on his resume.
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“On ovals, the last few races, Colton’s been great,” Edwards told RACER. “But moreover, in 2024, he’s done so many things, right? I’m super happy for him, super happy for the whole No. 26-car team, and happy for everyone at Andretti. Had his first oval podium at Milwaukee, first oval win today. Pretty good way to finish the year up.”
Herta was the only driver to win for Andretti this season, taking two IndyCar victories along with his charge to first place at Toronto. Teammate Kyle Kirkwood, a double winner in 2023, sat on pole and finished fourth at Nashville to give Edwards and the entire Andretti team a reason to be encouraged about where the IndyCar program is headed in 2025.
“When you look at both Kyle in the No. 27 and Marcus [Ericsson] in the No. 28 car at different times, they haven’t necessarily had the best luck this year, but when I look at the way that the three drivers work together and the three teams work together, it’s just a phenomenal effort from everyone,” he said.
“I’m excited to get going again next year.”