LONG BEACH, Calif. – Colton Herta of nearby Santa Clarita, California lived up to his reputation as “The California Kid” by winning the pole Saturday for Sunday’s 47th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Herta’s fastest lap in the final round was 1:05.3095 seconds around the 11-turn, 1.918-mile street course. That smashed the previous record of 1:06.2254 by nearly nine-tenths of a second established by Helio Castroneves in 2017 when it was part of the competitive aeroscreen era.
The defending Long Beach champion has won the last three races in the state of California. The streak started with the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey in 2019 and 2021 after the race was not held in 2020 because of COVID. Also, Herta won Long Beach when it closed the 2021 season on September 26.
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“We went to the drawing board overnight and brought out something completely different for today and it worked out really well,” Herta said. “Winning here last year gives us that little bit of confidence. The temperature will be cooler in the race and hopefully that helps us save the tires.”
Romain Grosjean crashed with two second left in the Fast Six session. Because there were two seconds left, IndyCar officials gave all cars with the exception of Grosjean a chance to do one more flying lap.
Herta had already run his record lap and strongly disagreed with IndyCar’s decision.
“I was told the session was over and we had the pole,” Herta said. “Everybody was out of the car. I didn’t understand the rule. It must be a new rule. I don’t know if that was a loose interpretation of the rule book, or it was even really a rule. As it turned out, it didn’t change anything.
“We’re starting in the best spot.”
Alexander Rossi and Felix Rosenqvist were the only two drivers that went out and neither were able to improve their times.
Herta was able to finally celebrate the pole.
“As a young kid, I always dreamed of becoming an IndyCar driver and it was because of this race,” Herta said.
Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden was second quickest in a Chevrolet at 1:05.7550.
“I’m pretty happy with second to be honest,” Newgarden said. “You always try to have something magic happen in the ‘Fast Six’ but with Colton, I knew that was going to be difficult to happen.
Colton Herta celebrates his Long Beach pole. (Photo: Al Steinberg)
“The Andretti (drivers), in general, look very strong across the board. We are missing something but hopefully we will find it tonight. We’re quick, but not quick enough to be P1. We’re in the ballgame. We’re back where we need to be. Pole would be better, but we’re in the fight.”
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou was third at 1:05.8667 in the No. 10 NTT DATA Honda. Felix Rosenqvist of Arrow McLaren SP was fourth at 1:05.9349 in a Chevrolet. Long Beach champion Alexander Rossi was fifth in a Honda at 1:06.0674 and Grosjean rounded out the “Fast Six” after his fast time was wiped off when he crashed and brought out the red flag.
“We tried very hard to go super-fast today,” Grosjean said. “It just didn’t work. We’re sixth on the grid, but if you lose your lap time and bring out a red flag, that is on you. We’re going to go for it. Three Andretti cars in the Fast Six feels very good. Worst you can start is sixth, so you just send it.
“To finish first, first you have to finish.”
Newgarden said with the ebb and flow of the season, it seems like the storyline changes after every race. The storyline after qualifying is that the Andrettis are back, at least on the streets of Long Beach.
“I think it was a good day for the team with Colton on pole, obviously,” said Rossi. “It’s a good spot for tomorrow.”
Jimmie Johnson, who fractured his right hand in a crash in practice on Friday, competed in both practice and qualifying on Saturday. The driver of the No. 48 Carvana/American Legion Honda was penalized in Segment One, Group One for impeding Graham Rahal from having a fast lap.
Johnson will start 25th in the 26-car starting lineup on Sunday.GROUP ONE, SEGMENT ONE1 – Colton Herta, Honda, 1:05.72832 – Alexander Rossi, Honda, 1:05.83633 – Felix Rosenqvist, Chevrolet, 1:06.10054 – Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, 1;06.10765 – Kyle Kirkwood, Chevrolet, 1:06.46766 – Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 1:06.5757DID NOT ADVANCE13 – Graham Rahal, Honda, 1:06.689615 – Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, 1:06.704917 – Devlin, DeFrancesco, Honda, 1:06.741819 – David Malukas, Honda, 1:06.792521 – Jack Harvey, Honda, 1:06.970823 – Takuma Sato, Honda, 1:07.100125 – Jimmie Johnson, Honda, 1:09.0287GROUP ONE, SEGMENT TWO1 – Romain Grosjean, Honda, 1:05.74682 – Simon Pagenaud, Honda, 1:05.89083 – Will Power, Chevrolet, 1:06.07884 — Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 1:06.08195 – Alex Palou, Honda, 1:06.14526 – Pato O’Ward, Chevrolet, 1:06.1781DID NOT ADVANCE14 – Helio Castroneves, Honda, 1:06.246716 – Scott Dixon, Honda, 1:06.324118 – Conor Daly, Chevrolet, 1:06.448920 – Christian Lundgaard, Honda, 1:06.504922 – Callum Ilott, Chevrolet, 1:06.667224 – Dalton Kellett, Chevrolet, 1:06.767926 – Tatiana Calderon, Chevrolet, 1:07.4789SECOND ROUND1 – Colton Herta, Honda, 1:05.40572 – Alexander Rossi, Honda, 1:05.57753 – Felix Rosenqvist, Chevrolet, 1:05.63444 – Alex Palou, Honda, 1:05.76625 – Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 1:05.81946 – Romain Grosjean, Honda, 1:05.8744DID NOT ADVANCE7 – Will Power, Chevrolet, 1:05.87458 – Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 1:05.95489 – Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, 1:06.050710 – Simon Pagenaud, Honda, 1:06.067811 – Pato O’Ward, Chevrolet, 1:06.072612 – Kyle Kirkwood, Chevrolet, 1:06.2604FAST SIX1 – Colton Herta, Honda, 1:05.3095 – breaks track record by nine-tenths of a second (Helio Castroneves, April 2017, 1:06.2254)2 – Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 1:05.75503 – Alex Palou, Honda, 1:05.86674 – Felix Rosenqvist, Chevrolet, 1:05.93495 – Alexander Rossi, Honda, 1:06.0674
6 – Romain Grosjean, Honda, No Time, after a crash
Keyword: Colton Herta Claims IndyCar Pole At Long Beach