INDIANAPOLIS — Colton Herta was cleared to drive within the Indianapolis 500 on Saturday, a day after flipping finish over finish in a harrowing crash. The Andretti Autosport driver walked out of the infield care middle unhurt however required additional analysis earlier than getting the inexperienced gentle to race Sunday.
Andretti Autosport posted Saturday on Twitter that Herta “has been formally cleared by IndyCar medical” to take part within the 500.
His crash Friday with 25 minutes remaining in Carb Day destroyed the No. 26 automobile and compelled his workforce to scramble to get a backup prepared. He’ll begin twenty fifth in IndyCar’s premier occasion.
The 22-year-old Californian was talking on his workforce radio as his automobile was nonetheless rolling. When it got here to a cease, his father, Bryan, radioed for Herta to remain put and strapped in till emergency crews may free him.
His father is his race strategist and instantly went to the Andretti storage to supervise preparations on the backup automobile.
Herta scored his first win of the IndyCar season earlier this month with an entertaining drive via the rain on the street course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Final yr, Herta certified second for the Indy 500, began on the entrance row and led 13 laps earlier than his technique backfired and he light to a disappointing Sixteenth-place end.