The Andretti Autosport-Honda ace, who scored his seventh IndyCar win earlier this month, had already found misfortune in preparing for his fourth Indianapolis 500. On the warm-up lap for his first qualifying run last Saturday, his Honda engine failed.
A major effort by the #26 Gainbridge crew members and some of their colleagues in the AA team ensured he went back out. The swift turn around was good enough to earn crew chief Nick Allen this year’s Clint Brawner Award. But in hot and dense air conditions of the afternoon, Herta could manage a four-lap average speed good enough for only 25th on the grid.
