Doran Drivers: Bryan Herta

Born: May 23, 1970.
Hometown: Warren, Mich.
Resides: Valencia, Calif.
Ht./Wt.: 5'10"/155 lbs.
Spouse: Janette
Children: Calysta, Colton
Web site: www.herta.com


CAREER SYNOPSIS
Substituting for the injured Dario Franchitti in June 2003 at Texas paid off well for Bryan Herta.  In only his third IRL Indy Car Series start he was victorious a month later at Kansas Speedway.

He continued to race with the powerful Andretti Green Racing team the rest of that season and for the entire 2004 Indy Racing League IndyCar season, helping AGR to win the 2004 team championship. Herta finished ninth in the IRL driver point standings for 2004, with his best finish being second at Chicagoland Speedway in September. He was fourth twice in '04: in the Indy 500 and also at Richmond the following month.

Herta made his CART champ car debut at the age of 24, claiming 19 top-five finishes and 43 top-10 finishes through the end of the 2003 season. He recorded his first champ car career victory in 1998 and has two to his credit, both at Laguna Seca.  He finished a career-best eighth in CART points in 1996 and 1998.

Herta also has a full season of endurance sports car racing to his credit, as he competed with the Panoz factory team in the American Le Mans Series in 2002.  He also competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans that year.

Herta finished ninth as a rookie in the 1994 Indianapolis 500.  He was13th in his second Indy 500 in1995 and fourth in his third Indy 500 in 2004.

He won the 1993 Firestone Indy Lights championship with Steve Horne's Tasman Motorsports Group, dominating the series with seven victories and eight pole positions in 12 events.

Herta began racing in karts at the age of 12, and his talents were quickly underscored with six championships in seven years of competition. In 1989 he advanced to the Skip Barber Formula Ford championship, where he claimed the champion's crown in a commanding fashion by winning 14 of 18 events. Herta continued to impress, adding the 1991 Barber Saab Pro Series Championship title to his resume.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS BY YEAR
2005: In his first race with Doran Labonte Racing, finished ninth overall and in the DP class at the Rolex 24 at Daytona Feb. 5-6 with teammates Jan Magnussen, Bobby Labonte and Terry Labonte  in the DORAN JE4 Pontiac No. 44.

2004: Member of Andretti Green Racing for the entire 2004 Indy Racing League IndyCar season, helping it to win the team championship.  Herta finished ninth in the IRL driver point standings for 2004, with his best finish being second at Chicagoland Speedway in September. He was fourth twice: in the 2004 Indy 500 and also at Richmond the following month.

2003: Scored first career IRL IndyCar Series win at Kansas Speedway in only his third start.  Served as substitute for injured Dario Franchitti in June at Texas, finishing fifth. Andretti Green Racing announced in late June that he would substitute for Franchitti for the remainder of the season. Competed in CART event at Laguna Seca and finished 11th.

2002
Competed full time in American Le Mans Series with Panoz factory team. Also competed in Le Mans 24 Hours.

2001
Competed in CART with Forsythe Championship Racing and finished 22nd in points. Finished season-best third at Cleveland.

2000
Competed in six CART events, one with Forsythe Championship Racing, three with Mo Nunn Racing as a substitute for the injured Tony Kanaan, and two with Walker Racing as a substitute for the injured Shinji Nakano. Finished fourth at Laguna Seca with Forsythe and finished fifth at Long Beach with Walker.

1999
Finished 12th in CART points driving for Team Rahal. Scored second consecutive victory from the pole at Laguna Seca. Had three top-five finishes.

1998
Finished eighth in CART points for Team Rahal, tying his career-best finish. Scored first CART win from the pole at Laguna Seca. Finished third at Portland and Long Beach and earned three pole positions.

1997
Drove in second season for Team Rahal in CART and finished 11th in points. Had nine top-10 finishes and two pole positions.

1996
Finished a career-best eighth in CART points in first season with Team Rahal.  Had eight top-10 finishes and ended the season with seven consecutive top-six finishes.

1995
Drove full season for Target Chip Ganassi Racing in CART and finished 20th in points. Finished 13th in his second Indianapolis 500. Originally qualified at 225.551 mph but had to start 33rd after a practice crash destroyed the qualified car, forcing him to a back-up car for the race. Won first career pole at Phoenix and finished second at Cleveland.

1994
Made Indy-style debut driving for A.J. Foyt Racing at Indianapolis 500.
Started 22nd and finished ninth in his first "500." Competed in five CART events for Foyt and scored three top-10 finishes . Suffered leg and pelvis injuries in practice accident at Toronto that ended his season.

1993
Won Indy Lights championship driving for Tasman Motorsports Group. Scored seven victories, a series-record eight poles and completed 99 percent of the laps for the season.

1992
Finished fifth in Indy Lights championship as a rookie. Won at Toronto and added three other podium finishes. Awarded prestigious "America's Choice" award as one of North America's top young drivers.

1991
Won the Barber Saab Pro Series championship with four victories and two poles. Selected to represent the United States in the Formula Ford Festival World Cup event, leading the team to an 11th-place finish out of 193 cars.

1990
Finished fifth in rookie season of Barber Saab Pro Series.

1989
Scored 14 victories in 18 races enroute to winning the Skip Barber Formula Ford Series.

1986-1988
Competed in World Karting Association events. Received his SCCA competition license and competed in his first Formula Ford events.

1985
Finished second in the World Karting Association season point championship and third in the Karting World Championship. Received karting's "Sportsman of the Year" award.

1982-84
Competed in karting events and was the season champion each year.

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