The sun may have been hiding behind the clouds at Road America, but Colton Herta's speed was on full display as he topped the charts in a wet and wild opening practice session for the NTT IndyCar Series.
The Andretti Autosport driver danced through the raindrops to set the fastest lap time, mastering treacherous conditions that caught out several of his rivals. Herta's impressive pace underscored his reputation as one of the series' most skilled performers in inclement weather, with his ability to find grip where others couldn't proving decisive.
The 75-minute session was interrupted by four red flags, the first triggered by Herta's own teammate. Alexander Rossi lost control early in the running, spinning into the gravel trap at Turn 5 and bringing out the opening stoppage. The incident ended Rossi's participation in the session, with his No. 27 Honda unable to continue without recovery and inspection.
While Herta ultimately claimed top honors, he faced a spirited challenge from Arrow McLaren SP. Patricio O'Ward made the critical call to start the session on full wet tires, a decision that paid immediate dividends as he vaulted up the leaderboard. The Mexican driver spent much of the session trading fastest laps with Herta before settling into second position, narrowly ahead of teammate Felix Rosenqvist.
Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou also featured prominently in the early running, setting competitive times on wet-weather rubber before the track began to evolve. As conditions gradually improved through the final 30 minutes, several drivers gambled on Firestone's intermediate tires, with Herta's late switch producing the lap that secured his place at the top of the timing screens.
The changing weather created a complex strategic puzzle for teams throughout the session. With the Elkhart Lake circuit offering limited grip away from the racing line, drivers who committed to offline exploration often paid a heavy price. Beyond Rossi's stranded machine, the remaining three red flags were triggered by separate incidents at Turn 3, Turn 8, and the Carousel as competitors tested the boundaries of adhesion.
Despite the interruptions, teams gathered valuable data on both wet and intermediate tire performance—a likely critical factor should changeable conditions persist through qualifying and Sunday's race. The session proved particularly important for rookies and part-time competitors, offering their first meaningful running at Road America in reduced-grip conditions.
Looking ahead, teams will face a delicate balancing act if the track continues to dry. The crossover point between wet tires, intermediates, and Firestone's dry-weather compounds—including the softer alternate tires distinguished by their red sidewalls—will require precise judgment with limited practice time remaining.
Herta's mastery of the wet establishes him as an early favorite should rain return, but the competitive order remains fluid. With qualifying looming and forecasts suggesting continued uncertainty, the battle for pole position promises to be as unpredictable as the Wisconsin weather itself.
