Colton Herta Wins Flooded Indianapolis GP

Colton Herta started today's Indianapolis GP 14th. But it was a wet start, thanks to rains an hour before the green flag, and the drying track created huge opportunities for someone to strike. It will not surprise you to learn that Herta, the risk-taking emerging superstar of IndyCar and legitimate Formula 1 prospect, was the one to take that risk.

On a drying track, Herta was the first driver to switch to dry tires. On-board videos showed an incredibly sketchy situation, but his pace was enough: Almost the entire field came down for dry tires the next time by, and, after a lap of getting his up to speed, that put Herta behind Pato O'Ward in second. Later in that lap, while chasing O'Ward for the race lead with slightly warmer dry weather tires, Herta put together the signature moment of his career to date:

While exiting the first half of a chicane, Herta broke loose. He had to briefly take his hands off his wheel to get to full lock, but it was enough to keep the car on the road without losing second. By the time he got his hands straight again, Herta was miraculously in a straight line and still within striking distance of leader Pato O'Ward. That put him in position to strike when O'Ward was forced to lift during a moment of his own, allowing Herta to swing past for the race lead.