Colton Herta's Indy 500 Return Officially Canceled Due to F2 Conflict

The American driver's Formula 2 commitments will prevent him from making a one-off appearance at the Indianapolis 500 this year.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:10pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a Formula 2 race car and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track, rendered in a cubist style with bold, overlapping planes of color.A cubist interpretation of the conflict between Colton Herta's Formula 2 commitments and his hopes of racing in the iconic Indianapolis 500.Indianapolis Today

Colton Herta, the former full-time IndyCar driver, had hoped to return to the Indianapolis 500 this year despite his move to Formula 2. However, a newly added F2 race weekend in Montreal on the same day as the Indy 500 has officially dashed those plans, as Herta cannot miss the crucial F2 event in his pursuit of a Formula 1 superlicense.

Why it matters

Herta's participation in the Indy 500 would have been a homecoming for the American driver and a chance for fans to see him compete in the iconic race. His absence is a disappointment, but Herta's focus on securing a Formula 1 superlicense through his Formula 2 campaign takes priority, as that has been his ultimate goal in leaving IndyCar.

The details

Herta spent seven full seasons in IndyCar before leaving to become a test driver for the Cadillac F1 Team and to race in Formula 2 in hopes of securing the necessary superlicense points to enter F1. His first F2 race weekend in Melbourne went well, but the series then faced scheduling disruptions due to the conflict in the Middle East. To fill the gap, F2 added new race weekends in North America, including one in Montreal that conflicts with the Indy 500. This means Herta cannot miss the crucial F2 event, as it could cost him valuable superlicense points in his pursuit of an F1 seat.

  • Herta spent seven full seasons in IndyCar before leaving for Formula 2 and a Cadillac F1 test role.
  • Herta's first F2 race weekend was at the F1 season-opener in Melbourne.
  • F2 had over a month off after the Melbourne round due to the conflict in the Middle East, leading the series to add new North American events.
  • The new F2 race in Montreal is scheduled for the same day as the Indianapolis 500.
  • The F2 Feature Race in Montreal may take place at the same time as the Indy 500.

The players

Colton Herta

A former full-time IndyCar driver who left the series to pursue a Formula 1 superlicense by racing in Formula 2 and serving as a test driver for the Cadillac F1 Team.

Andretti Global

The IndyCar team that was considering fielding a fourth car for Herta to drive in the Indianapolis 500.

Hitech GP

The Formula 2 team that Herta is racing for in his pursuit of an F1 superlicense.

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What they’re saying

“There was a chance that Colton Herta — despite leaving his full-time IndyCar duties to race in Formula 2 — could return to the series for a one-off appearance in the Indianapolis 500.”

— Matt Reigle, Author

What’s next

Herta will continue to focus on his Formula 2 campaign, where he currently sits 10th in the standings. Missing the Montreal race weekend would make it much harder for him to secure the necessary superlicense points to potentially enter Formula 1 in the future.

The takeaway

Herta's decision to prioritize his Formula 2 commitments over a one-off return to the Indianapolis 500 highlights the difficult choices drivers must make when pursuing opportunities in different racing series. While disappointing for fans, Herta's focus on securing an F1 superlicense is understandable as that has been his ultimate goal in leaving IndyCar.