IndyCar still no match for F1 at COTA

©Herta

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©Herta

Though only 18, Colton Herta showed his fellow senior IndyCar rivals the way on the first day of the series' Spring Training at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin.

The Harding Steinbrenner Racing driver - who is also the son of former IndyCar driver and team co-owner Brian Herta - lost no time getting down to business on Tuesday, topping both of the day's sessions.

The pre-season test at COTA provided some more insight into the massive performance gap that exists between IndyCar and Formula 1, although a relative compare between the two types of cars is of limited interest given the very different set of rules governing each series.

Herta's fastest lap of the day was 1m46.62s, a time that was approximately 14 seconds slower than the pole lap achieved by Lewis Hamilton at last October's US Grand Prix!

However, beyond the sheer performance and speed criteria, IndyCar's contenders certainly get our vote over F1 in terms of aesthetics!

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.