It all started back in May when IndyCar charger Colton Herta tracked down and gifted to his father Bryan for his birthday the very car that he had steered to victory at in a CART race at Laguna Seca in 1998.
From there, the idea of the pair sharing a track day together, with their respective old and modern machines took on a life of its own, with the help of RACER's Marshall Pruett.
On Wednesday, ahead of this weekend's IndyCar finale at Laguna, the plan came to fruition when father and son ventured out together on to the track in a heartwarming and emotional display that encapsulated the passage of time and a shared passion for racing.
"It’s a dream come true. Who gets to do this? I can’t rate this. It’s off the charts, it really is, on so many levels," Herta Sr. said after his son stepped out of the ’98 CART car for the final time.
"Now 25 years later, to get to experience this car one more time, and to get to share that with my son and watch him experience a 90s-era CART car and feel that and drive that, it’s everything for me."
After Bryan reacquainted himself with his 25-year-old Reynard-Cosworth, Colton slotted himself behind the wheel of the now vintage racer for a few hot laps of his own. And the 23-year-old Andretti Autosport charger was as overwhelmed as his proud dad by the experience.
"I had butterflies the first time I saw that car go by, just hearing the sounds of when it goes by, and being able to smell the engine, I’ve never had that before," he said.
"And to see him back in a race car, too. It’s been such a long time since he was in an open-wheel car. I was maybe 6 or 7 the last time, so for me, it was like the first time all over again."
Check out an onboard video of Colton's four-lap run at Laguna at the wheel of his father's '98 Reynard.
