Just days before the season opener for the NTT Data IndyCar Series, the hauler of Andretti Autosport driver Colton Herta was involved in a fire on Interstate 275.
The fire took place Wednesday morning (March 11) in Pinellas County, Fla., near Ulmerton Road.
Per NBC news affiliate News Channel 8, no one was injured.
#BREAKING: The hauler transporting #ColtonHerta’s #88 #INDYCAR caught fire on I-275 in #StPetersburg, #Florida. No injuries reported. Unknown how the #88 faired in the fire but some pit equipment has been damaged. Updates on @abcactionnews pic.twitter.com/E5z7VkcNqF
— Photojournalist Ryan French (@RyanFrenchPhoto) March 11, 2020
IndyCar hauler for team Colton Herta catches fire on I-275 SB. A manager of the team says some pit equipment was damaged. Car condition unknown. Cause under investigation. @ColtonHerta @IndyCar @Fox13News pic.twitter.com/yZuCLn1PEk
— Roy Kuntz (@RoyKuntz) March 11, 2020
St. Petersburg fire officials told Channel 8 that the fire didn’t reach the car but the fire did damage some of the pit equipment.
It is unknown at this time whether or not the organization will field the No. 88 entry in Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. It’s slated to be Herta’s first race with the Andretti organization after spending 2019 with Harding-Steinbrenner Racing.
Hard to tell yet from the video, but this is a reminder to every motorsports Team Owner to insist on regular rebuilds of the trailer wheel bearings. These trailers are sold from year to year and everyone assumes the previous owner took care of it. The result is a classic flame pattern from the overheated bearings up the outside wall to the car bay on top…