Colton Herta has officially ruled out attempting a same-day double between the Indy 500 and Formula 2s feature race in Montreal this May, citing scheduling conflicts and the increased focus on his Formula 2 and Formula 1 commitments with Cadillac.

The 26-year-old American, who left the NTT IndyCar Series at the end of last season, is now Cadillacs designated F1 test driver and competes full-time with Hitech in the FIA Formula 2 Championship. Originally, a gap in the F2 calendar during May would have made a return to Indianapolis possible. However, the cancellation of Formula 2s April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to regional conflicts forced a reshuffling of the schedule.

On April 9, F2 confirmed that Rounds 2 and 3 would be held in Miami and Montreal, respectively  marking the series inaugural races in North America. With the new calendar in place, Herta acknowledged that juggling both events on the same day would no longer be feasible, even with past visions of pulling off the ambitious double.

I had visions in my head of being able to do that, but I kind of always knew it wasnt going to be able to be done legitimately, Herta told select media, including The Athletic, during a recent interview. As far as the Indy side, you miss Carb Day, which is a very important day. And then even if it were to work, its difficult because F2 is a clear priority, and Cadillac is the clear priority for me this year.

Herta added, That was just going to kind of be a little bit of an added bonus when I had a bit of time off, but yeah, it wasnt meant to be this year.

A Focus on F2 and Future F1 Ambitions

While Herta remains one of IndyCars brightest alumni  holding records as the series youngest race winner and polesitter, with nine career victories and 16 poles  his current career path is firmly rooted in the FIA ladder toward Formula 1.

The idea of racing in both the Indy 500 and an F2 race on the same day is notoriously demanding. Drivers such as NASCARs Kyle Larson have recently attempted the feat, but with limited success. For Herta, such an endeavor would not only stretch logistical limits but could potentially hinder his progress in F2, where he is already showing promise.

I would love to do an IndyCar race, Herta said, but realistically, its probably not going to help anything that Im doing full time so it wont happen. Or I would probably say I wouldnt do it, because it might hurt.

Herta has already scored points in F2, finishing seventh in the feature race in Australia. Further reinforcing his commitment to Cadillac, the team announced that Herta will take part in four FP1 (Free Practice 1) sessions during the Formula 1 season, beginning at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

Adapting to a New Driving Style

Transitioning from the high-downforce, oval-dominated world of IndyCar to the tire-sensitive, circuit-focused F2 has required significant adaptation. Herta noted that the driving styles are markedly different.

The Indy car, you make lap time out of it, and you can be very forceful with your inputs, with your feet and your hands, he explained. Whereas F2, you have to massage it a little bit more. You have to be a little bit more delicate with it, and the way you get lap time out of the two are not similar.

One of the biggest learning curves has been mastering tire management, particularly in races involving pit stops and compound changes.

When I first got into the car, it was quite difficult to maximize lap time out of it, and I was looking for lap time in probably wrong places, Herta admitted. Despite progress, he says hes still not exactly where I want to be at with it.

Looking Ahead

Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon praised Hertas performances, calling him a top talent whose transition to F2 has been impressive. Colton is a top talent, which he has not only proved by building an impressive resume in the NTT IndyCar Series before joining us, but also with a strong start to his Formula 2 season, Lowdon said.

With FP1 appearances on the horizon and F2 duties intensifying, Herta remains focused on proving himself in the world of international single-seater racing. For now, a return to the Indy 500  even as a one-off  remains off the table.