SEPTEMBER 3, 2025
Sunday, August 31, 2025 at 09:01AM 
The Cadillac Formula 1 Team has announced that nine-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES race winner Colton Herta will serve as a Test Driver as the team prepares to join the F1 grid for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season. For Herta, 25, the 2026 season will mark a return to the European racing ranks, as the second-generation racer – the son of IndyCar and ChampCar driver Bryan Herta – made his European racing debut in 2015. Over a two-year period, he secured four victories, six podium finishes and five pole positions in the Euroformula Open Championship and went on to compete in six British F3 events, earning three podium finishes including a victory at Brands Hatch before returning to America in 2017.
Coming off his seventh INDYCAR season, Herta has recorded nine wins, 16 pole positions, and led over 1,000 laps in his 116 career starts. He also holds the title of youngest driver to win an INDYCAR SERIES race and pole position, a feat he achieved in 2019 at the Circuit of the Americas – home of the F1 United States Grand Prix. In addition to a successful INDYCAR career, Herta has scored multiple IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship class wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona (2019 and 2022) and an overall win at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2024.
Entering into a new role within TWG Motorsports, Herta is the first Test Driver named by the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, following the announcement last month that experienced F1 duo Valtteri Bottas and Sergio “Checo” Perez will form the team’s first-ever race driver line-up during its debut season next year. Announcements on Herta’s 2026 racing program will be made in due course.
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team as a Test Driver,” Herta said. “This is a dream opportunity, and one I’ve been working towards for a long time. To be part of Cadillac F1’s entry at such a pivotal time is something I couldn’t pass up. My dream has always been to race in Formula 1, and I see this move as a huge step towards that goal. For now, my focus is on giving everything I can to Cadillac F1, helping build a competitive team.”
“We are delighted to welcome Colton Herta as a Test Driver,” said Graeme Lowdon, Team Principal, Cadillac Formula 1 Team. “Colton is an exceptionally talented racer with proven speed, race craft, and maturity well beyond his years. His experience in top-level American motorsport as part of the TWG Motorsport family makes him an ideal fit for this role, and he will bring valuable and fresh insight, perspective, and energy to our team as we continue to build for the future.“
General Motors President Mark Reuss added: “Colton is an accomplished young driver with solid roots in American motorsports who will bring sharp insights and a relentless drive to push performance forward to the team. Colton is the latest addition to our crew of drivers, joining Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez, as announced last week. This lineup, supported by our engineering hubs, combines world-class talent, innovation, and determination that will accelerate our progress as Cadillac F1 moves toward Melbourne in March.”
Nashville-area native Josef Newgarden broke a 20-race drought dating back to August 2024 to earn his first victory of 2025 and 32nd of his illustrious NTT INDYCAR SERIES career at his home track Sunday, winning the season-ending Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by WillScot at Nashville Superspeedway.
“Glad we got one without anything going wrong,” Newgarden said. “Happy to celebrate this team. They deserve it. It’s rewarding for our team. Tough, tough year, but good to get a win at the end.” Two-time series champion Newgarden drove his No. 2 Team Penske Astemo Chevrolet to victory by .5021 of a second over the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing DHL Honda of four-time and reigning series champion Alex Palou, who celebrated with the Astor Challenge Cup for the third straight year in post-race ceremonies. “It’s been an amazing season for us,” Palou said. “I just had the pleasure to be the driver of that No. 10 DHL Honda car, to get so many wins and so many podiums this year.”
Scott McLaughlin finished third in the No. 3 Team Penske DEX Imaging Chevrolet after prevailing in a stirring duel down the stretch of the 225-lap race with Kyffin Simpson in the No. 8 Chipo Ganassi Racing Journie Rewards Honda. It’s just the second time this season that Team Penske – the most winning team in INDYCAR SERIES history – put two drivers on the podium.
Simpson capped a strong second season in the series by holding on to fourth for his best career oval result. Conor Daly rounded out the top five in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Chevrolet after starting 24th, gaining more spots than any driver in the race.
Louis Foster hung on to clinch the series Rookie of the Year honors by just two points over Robert Shwartzman. Foster finished 20th in the No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Desnuda Tequila Honda, while Shwartzman was 14th in the No. 83 PREMA Racing Chevrolet. Watch the Race Highlights here. (Thank you to INDYCAR Media)
Editor's Note: This is our dearly departed billboard, which we had at Road America for several years. Peter gifted the phrase "America's National Park of Speed" to the track, which now uses it proudly in all of its communications. -WG
Editor's Note: Click on "Next 1 Entries" at the bottom of this page to see previous issues. - WG