Colton Herta praises IndyCar's delayed cautions; Christian Lundgaard warns of risks

Two separate incidents drew attention during Sunday’s Java House Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for one simple reason: IndyCar race control's ‘patience’ in throwing a full-course caution.

Rinus VeeKay ended up stranded in the Turn 3 runoff after being hit by Kyle Kirkwood on lap 25, right in the middle of a pit sequence. This meant some drivers were rejoining the track from the pits and accelerating from Turn 2, while others were already at full speed and fighting for position.

The Dutch driver, racing the No. 18 car for Dale Coyne Racing, sat there for over a minute and a half under local yellow flags before race control finally called for a full caution. This delay allowed the leading group — including Alex Palou and Colton Herta — to make their first pit stops under green-flag conditions, but it compromised Pato O’Ward, who had pitted a lap earlier.

Herta defends IndyCar's decision

Colton Herta, Andretti Global

Photo by: Gavin Baker / Lumen via Getty Images

Later in the race, on lap 77, Marcus Ericsson spun after going off at the exit of Turn 6 on the run up to the Corkscrew. His No. 28 Andretti Global Honda was left stalled with half the car still on the racing surface on the right side of the track. Once again, race control waited more than a minute and a half under local yellows before bringing out the full caution — while cars were flying past just inches away from Ericsson’s stranded car on a blind uphill crest.

With IndyCar’s new hybrid units, drivers now have a better chance of refiring their cars and rejoining the race without needing assistance, which is part of why officials are waiting longer to throw yellows. While some felt the delays went too far on Sunday, Herta wasn’t among them.

“Yeah, they should keep it open — they should keep the pits open as long as they can and allow the leaders to pit at every opportunity,” said the driver of the No. 27 Andretti Global entry after finishing third.

“I think it's not fair to be one of the fast guys, qualify well, and then have your day screwed by a yellow. It's happened to everybody in this series, but when you're running up front consistently, it burns you more often.”

For Herta, the logic is simple: “It's something that I think is a real plus from IndyCar. I think it's fair, and I think it should continue.”

“It can go terribly wrong,” says Lundgaard

Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren

Photo by: Brandon Badraoui / Lumen via Getty Images

Christian Lundgaard, who finished second on Sunday, had a different view when asked whether IndyCar was right to delay cautions to give drivers a chance to pit or recover.

“I think there are pros and cons to it, in a sense. I mean, I was definitely driving around thinking, why is there a car sideways — well, technically backwards — going into the Corkscrew, and we’re green for two laps?” he said.

The driver of Arrow McLaren’s No. 7 entry argued that local yellows might not be enough when a car is parked in a vulnerable spot like Ericsson’s was, and warned of the possible consequences.

“Yes, there's a local yellow, but if someone isn't really paying attention — maybe changing a switch on the steering wheel — it can go terribly wrong.”

As for the VeeKay incident, Lundgaard considered that one less dangerous. And while he wasn’t sure whether he agreed with the decision to delay the caution, he at least appreciated the consistency.

“The one with VeeKay in Turn 3 I think was more fair in a sense because you see him parked in the gravel. You're not really going to end up there unless you really aren't paying attention. I think IndyCar has been consistent with that. Not necessarily saying that I agree with it, but I do appreciate that they’re being consistent.”