1997 Herta made the move with Team Rahal to a Ford-Cosworth XD engine for 1997. His season highlight was a third place finish at Cleveland and fifth place at Michigan and his best since a runner-up performance in last year's season finale at Laguna Seca. He finished eleventh in the PPG Cup championship with 72 points having had pole positions at Mid-Ohio and Laguna Seca.
1996 Third-year driver finished a career-best eighth in the PPG Cup points race (86) with an outstanding second half. He led in four of the season's final five races and earned 'Most Improved Driver' honours with two front-row starts and a pair of podium finishes in 1996 - his first season with Team Rahal. Finished eighth in the series championship standings after closing the season with seven consecutive top-six finishes.
1995 Set a track record in qualifying on the pole at Phoenix in 1995 while driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.
1994 A practice crash at Toronto during rookie season of 1994 threatened his career and his life. Successful surgeries and rehabilitation allowed him to be back in competition the following year. His IndyCar career began with A. J. Foyt Enterprises at Indianapolis, where he finished 9th in his very first series race. Was hired to complete the balance of the schedule before season was cut short at Toronto.
1993 He captured the Indy Lights title in 1993 in only his second season, claiming seven victories and a series-record eight pole positions.
1991 Won the Barber-Saab Pro Series championship with four wins and two poles.
1989 Took 14 victories in 18 events on his way to the 1989 Skip Barber Formula Ford Series title.
1987 World Karting Association championship among numerous karting titles.
Racing interest peaked when he began go-karting at the age of 12. He studied economics at Ohio State University.
