LIGHTS: Colton Herta to drive Andretti Steinbrenner entry

Colton Herta will join his father's team in 2017 as the young Californian shifts his junior open-wheel education to the Indy Lights series. Herta's father Bryan and Michael Andretti joined forces in 2016 and promptly won the Indy 500 with Alexander Rossi driving the No. 98 Honda; the duo are hopeful the same kind of fortune follows with the addition of Steinbrenner Racing to field the promising teenage talent.

Formed in partnership with the legendary Steinbrenner family, longtime owners of the New York Yankees baseball team, Herta will race under the Andretti Steinbrenner banner next year driving in the Verizon IndyCar Series' top developmental category.

"I have been around Indy car racing for nearly half of my young life as a fan and enthusiast," said George Michael Steinbrenner IV. "Andretti Autosport always seemed to have a prestige in how they operate and present themselves that mirrors that of the Yankees. The legacy of the Andretti name and the success and wide reach of the Andretti brand is as impressive as you will find in the world of motor racing."

Team co-owner Michael Andretti was understandably enthused to bring the Steinbrenners into open-wheel competition.

"Partnering with a name as iconic as Steinbrenner is really something I'm looking forward to," he said. "George Michael (Steinbrenner IV) has a great vision for his race team, just as his grandfather had for the Yankees. We are looking forward to having George Michael join us in our Indianapolis office in a very hands-on role with the team. I think together the partnership can continue to grow in motorsport, and it is only fitting that we begin by entering a car into the Mazda Road to Indy [Presented by Cooper Tires] program with Indy Lights."

For Herta, 16, the transition to Indy Lights comes after a recent and successful foray into European open-wheel racing (pictured).

"I'm very pleased to be coming back to race in the States," said Herta, whose father won the 1993 Indy Lights championship before graduating to IndyCar (BELOW: Bryan Herta in Indy Lights in 1992, Marshall Pruett archive photo).

"IndyCar is my goal, so competing in Indy Lights this year will bring me one step closer. I know I have a good team behind me in Andretti Steinbrenner Racing and we should be fighting for wins right away."