The stars of the NTT IndyCar Series are well-known for their talent and bravery behind the wheel, but many also are known for having a great sense of humor.
During IndyCar’s preseason Media Day in Austin, Texas, a few drivers decided to pull a prank on a fellow competitor Monday.
Josef Newgarden, Felix Rosenqvist and Simon Pagenaud decided to “steal” Colton Herta’s phone and leave a few surprises on it for him to find later, which Herta promptly posted on Twitter.
“My phone was stolen but I found it now, here’s a thread on what was left on it @josefnewgarden.”
Attached was a video message that Newgarden recorded on Herta’s phone:
My phone was stolen but I found it now, here’s a thread on what was left on it @josefnewgarden pic.twitter.com/EhRstdV7Ws
— Colton Herta (@ColtonHerta) February 10, 2020
“Colton, why is your phone so broken?” Newgarden asked in the video. “This thing, you can’t even see out of it, it’s so broken.
“Get your phone fixed, kid!”
Herta then shared some less-than-glamorous photos left on his phone by Felix Rosenqvist and Simon Pagenaud:
— Colton Herta (@ColtonHerta) February 10, 2020
The defending Indy 500 winner also left a special video on Herta’s phone, notifying Herta that he was helping him with his love life.
— Colton Herta (@ColtonHerta) February 10, 2020
“Hey Colton Herta. Hope you’re doing well. I’ve got your phone in my hand right now and I’m having a little bit of fun with it,” Pagenaud said in the video. “I’m setting up some online dating accounts where I’m putting in all of your information.
“I want to make sure you find the right person. You know, it’s very important to be with the right person so you can be a better person yourself, and open your emotional side.”
Though Herta appeared to have taken the prank all in stride, he might not be leaving his phone out of sight anytime soon in the future.
According the the Indianapolis Star’s Nathan Brown, Herta’s new teammate Zach Veach held on to his phone during a media conference, and locked him out of his phone with the goal of keeping him out for three hours.