Herta, 23, started the 100-lap contest fourth on a set of the softer alternate (green sidewall) tires. Right at the start, he was able to jump up to third straight away after pulling to the outside of Pato O’Ward – on the harder primary (black sidewall) compound – entering Turn 1 that gave favorable positioning on the inside of Turn 2 to complete the pass.
From there, the California native held steady in the No. 26 Andretti Global Honda until the initial caution flew on lap 26 after Chip Ganassi Racing’s Marcus Armstrong shunted in Turn 10. It set up pitstops that saw Herta switch to a fresh set of primaries and restart third on the restart on lap 30.
