The second IndyCar race of the 2019 season was run at Circuit of the Americas in Austin Texas last Sunday. Colton Herta, the son of former IndyCar driver and team owner/manager Brain Herta, took the checked flag as the victor of the 60 lap event. He became the youngest winner ever at age 18 years. Driving a Honda powered racer for the Harding Steinbrenner owned team, Herta gave that team its first IndyCar victory since being formed in 2017. For Herta, it was only his third IndyCar start. Colton Herta had spent the previous two seasons in Indy Lights competition, finishing third in the 2017 points championship and second in last year’s point chase. He collected six victories and a staggering 24 total podium finishes in Indy Lights competition.
Will Power won his 36th pole in qualifying and the 2018 Indy 500 winner was in command for much of the race. Herta made a green light pit stop on lap 43 and then on lap 46 James Hinchcliffe and rookie Felix Rosenqvist bumped each other which sent the rookie into the barrier at the entrance of the pit lane and brought out the race’s only yellow light. The three leaders at the time — Power, Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden — pitted, putting Herta in first position. While trying to leave his pit stall, the drive shaft in Power’s car broke to end his day. He finished last.
Herta held off a late charge by Newgarden for the win. Newgarden was second. Ryan Hunter Reay was third, Graham Rahal was fourth, and Sebastian Bourdais took fifth. Josef Newgarden retained his point led in the championship chase and Colton Herta moved into second place.
The next event on the schedule is April 7 at the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama for the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama Presented by AmFirst.
Boilers Still in the Hunt Thanks to Edwards
The Purdue Boilermakers Men’s Basketball team moved to the second round of the NCAA South Regionals with an 81-67 pounding of Villanova. Purdue’s All-America junior guard Carson Edwards electrified the fans with a 42 point performance — a Boilermaker single game record. WAY TO GO PURDUE AND CARSON EDWARDS! Purdue meets the Tennessee Vols on Thursday night for the second round of the regional competition.
Hoosiers take 1st Round of the NIT
The Indiana Hoosier Men’s Basketball team beat the Arkansas Razorbacks 63-60 to advance to the second round of the Tournament. The Hoosiers showed good offensive balance in the victory. They play again against the Wichita State Shockers. Good luck to the Big Red.