Colton Herta Envisions Global Expansion for IndyCar: Eyes International Races in 2025
Colton Herta, one of the rising stars in IndyCar, has shared his vision for the future of the series, emphasizing the importance of expanding its footprint beyond North America. In a recent appearance on the Off Track with Hinch and Rossi podcast, Herta expressed his hope for IndyCar to return to international racing, a territory the series has not ventured into since 2013, when it held the São Paulo Indy 300 in Brazil for the final time.
Herta, who drives for Andretti Global, outlined his reasoning for why international races could be a game-changer for both the series and the teams involved. “International races are so good for IndyCar for a few reasons. They are not paid for by the teams; it’s usually the promoter, the city, or the country that’s providing millions of dollars for us to go racing there,” Herta explained. “It’s profitable for IndyCar and IndyCar teams to do so.”
The 23-year-old driver went on to propose a modest start, suggesting that IndyCar introduce just two races outside of North America in the 2025 season as a way to test the waters. “Maybe just two outside of North America, and hopefully, we can grow it from there,” Herta said. His vision represents a calculated strategy to introduce new markets to the sport, giving IndyCar an opportunity to diversify its fan base and attract new sponsorships, while offering drivers the challenge of competing on unfamiliar, often more demanding, international circuits.
IndyCar’s last international race took place over a decade ago, but Herta’s push for expansion underscores his desire to bring fresh opportunities to the sport. With Herta’s success and his growing influence in the series, his proposal could spark discussions about IndyCar’s future direction, possibly laying the groundwork for a global racing series in the years to come.
