Indy GP winner Herta amazed by a car that’s “just not possible”

Despite starting from 14th, Herta ended up leading 50 of the 75 laps, on his way to victory in a chaotic weather affected race held on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

The race started in wet conditions but Herta quickly switched to the red walled slicks on lap 3 before rain showers doused the circuit again for the final stint.   

After beating Meyer Shank Racing's Simon Pagenaud and Team Penske's Will Power to claim a first win of the season, Herta was impressed by how his car handled the varying weather conditions.  

“The most interesting thing is you never have a car that works in the wet and the dry – it's just not possible, but it happened today," said Herta.

“It was very interesting. Felt comfortable in all conditions.”

“The call for slicks to wets that made the difference. I think we gained 15 [actually 13] spots on that transition. We pitted on Lap 3. Everybody pitted on lap 4 or 5. We gained [13] spots in that transition to go from 14th to first.

“It was really cool. The team did a tremendous job. They gave me such an incredible car.”

Herta was in a long discussion with his strategist and father Bryan Herta before the final stint regarding whether to go for more reds or switch to wets as rain had returned and heavier showers were expected imminently.

In the end they went for more reds, but all their principal rivals did the same, so when the rain became heavier, almost all ducked back into the pits.

He explained: "I said, ‘With the track conditions right now it's probably wets, but if you think it's going to get dryer or wetter, that will change my decision.’ We thought it was going to dry out a little bit, so we went on slicks. Immediately when I got out there, I knew it was going to be tough, but I