The driver announcements for the NTT IndyCar Series 2021 are in full swing.
Colton Herta will be racing in Gainbridge Honda #26 for Andretti Autosport. That will be the third different team in three years, although it’s mostly a name change. Herta started out at Harding Steinbrenner Racing, who had a collaboration with Andretti Autosport. That only got even closer, when the team had issues finding sponsors to race.
He officially switched to AA in 2020, where he was racing car #88, being one of many drivers for the team. Zach Veach left the team towards the end of the year, leaving the #26 car, and was replaced by James Hinchcliffe for the final three races. Herta will take over the #26 and the Gainbridge sponsorship for the 2021 season.
Alexander Rossi is also announced for Andretti Autosport, and it’s expected for Ryan Hunter-Reay to return as well. James Hinchcliffe is a bit on the edge of getting a seat, but he is working hard on securing it.
Arrow McLaren SP has announced that Juan Pablo Montoya will race their third car at Indianapolis 500 in May 2021. The deal is just for that single race, and it’s going to be the first time since 2017, that the double Indy 500 Champion will compete in the race.
The Columbian has previous raced for McLaren in Formula 1 in 2005 and 2006, and that didn’t end too well, and Montoya ended up switching to NASCAR. Zak Brown does, however, seem to heal old wounds, since he was the man getting Fernando Alonso back to the team, after their failed 2007 season. Second time around lasted a few more years.
Montoya will be busy in 2021, since he will do six FIA World Endurance Championship races with DragonSpeed, plus helping out Meyer Shank Racing at the four endurance races in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
NTT IndyCar Series 2021 starts on 7 March in St. Petersburg, Florida, while the Indianapolis 500 will be run on 30 May.