Teen IndyCar star Colton Herta fastest in Long Beach warmup

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — American teen sensation Colton Herta was fastest in IndyCar’s final warm-up for the Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Herta last month became the youngest winner in IndyCar history with his victory at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The win came in his second race with upstart Harding Steinbrenner Racing, and only his third overall IndyCar start.

On the temporary street course through downtown Long Beach, Herta showed his Honda is fast by topping the speed chart. He was followed by de-facto teammates Marco Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay, then Graham Rahal, Takuma Sato, Scott Dixon, Alexander Rossi, Zach Veach, and Sebastien Bourdais — a nine-car Honda sweep.

Spencer Pigot was the fastest Chevrolet in ninth, but the best Team Penske driver was Will Power in 13th.

Rossi will try to win from the pole for the second consecutive season, but starts alongside five-time IndyCar champion Dixon. It is the highest Dixon has ever started in 12 previous races at Long Beach.

Herta starts 12th but clearly has a fast car and an overwhelming desire to win what is essentially his home race. He’s a second-generation IndyCar driver but still lives with his parents in his childhood in Valencia, roughly 60 miles from downtown Long Beach.