• Harding Steinbrenner Racing eager for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

    The 2019 NTT IndyCar Series season begins with practice this today, for Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Colton Herta will pilot the #88 Harding Steinbrenner Racing Indy car powered by Honda in his first season opener as an INDYCAR driver.
    “I am so proud of the #88 Harding Steinbrenner Racing crew. They have worked hard to get everything put together for the first race of the season,” said team president Brian Barnhart. “I’m also very happy about our new relationship with Latitude Vacation Club and with our technical alliance with Andretti Technologies. We’re very excited to begin Colton Herta’s rookie campaign in the NTT IndyCar Series. We are looking forward to doing all we can to give him the best opportunity to be competitive.”
    Eighteen-year-old Colton Herta has one pole, one win and three podium finishes in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in his two years of racing in the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Championship. Last year, Herta finished second in the 2018 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Championship with four wins and three pole positions. He also captured a historic “May Sweep” winning the Freedom 100 and Grand Prix of Indianapolis. He made his INDYCAR debut at Sonoma Raceway in the season finale where he finished 20th.
    “The NTT IndyCar Series season is finally around the corner, and the prep is done! Now all there is to do is drive the car as fast as possible. I’m really excited to get going with the Harding Steinbrenner guys at one of my favorite races, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The entire team has put so much hard work and effort into the #88 Honda-powered Indy car, so I’m ready to showcase their hard work and get the season going!”
    The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series season opener, will take place this Sunday, March 10, along the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. Coverage will begin at 1:37 p.m. ET on NBC Sports. Extensive coverage can be found on INDYCAR Pass on NBC Sports Gold. For more information or to subscribe to INDYCAR Pass on NBC Sports Gold, visit  www.nbcsports.com/gold/indycar .
    About Harding Steinbrenner Racing
    Indianapolis based Harding Steinbrenner Racing is led by Indianapolis businessman Mike Harding and George Michael Steinbrenner IV. Brian Barnhart is team president, and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. serves the team as executive consultant. Harding Steinbrenner will compete on a full-time basis in the 2019 IndyCar Series with Colton Herta, driver of the #88 Honda-powered Indy car.
    About Colton Herta
    Colton Herta began racing go-karts at the age of four. At 12, he turned to cars and promptly won the Pacific F1600 Series championship and finished second in the Skip Barber Summer Series. At 16 years old, the Valencia, California, native quickly impressed by winning the second race of the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Championship 2017 season. That year he also led the series with seven pole positions, set five new track records and earned Rookie of the Year honors. Most recently, Herta won the Rolex 24 Hours IMSA race with the Rahal Letterman Racing team and placed second in the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Championship with four wins, three pole positions and 13 podium finishes.