Infotainment Factory: Son's sneaky birthday gift brings driver dad to tears

Two-time IndyCar race winner Bryan Herta choked back tears as the reality of what lay idle in his workshop dawned on him.

Son Colton organised the ultimate 53rd birthday gift, the car that his father drove to his last IndyCar (then CART) race win at Laguna Seca in 1998.

Bryan was lured to his garage on the pretence he'd be doing an interview with a journalist.

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When he arrived, Colton lifted the veil.

Bryan Herta of Team Rahal driving the Reynard Ford 98I during the CART Grand Prix of Monterey at the Laguna Seca Raceway.

"We're actually not doing an interview," said Colton, a seven-time IndyCar race winner.

"It's your last (IndyCar) winner. Same engine, same chassis."

Bryan could only stare in disbelief as he cast his eye over the car, bringing back memories from 25 years ago.

Colton explained he bought the car after finding it in Houston.

"Somebody sent it to me, a listing of it and that was about a year ago," said Colton in a RACER video.

"I was in contact with that guy forever. I was just kind of waiting. I missed his birthday last year. I really wanted to do it for his birthday last year, I missed it, so I waited a year. Got it.

"I flew down to Houston about a month and a half ago. That was when I was in Houston for that media thing I told you about, but it wasn't a media thing, I was going to check out the car.

"I went down there and bought it. I just had to make sure it was all the original stuff and the actual chassis number and engine number was correct, and once I knew that it was good."

The Team Rahal-run, Ford Cosworth-powered Reynard 98i was presented immaculately in its winning colours for the occasion.

Bryan revealed he had never owned any of the cars he raced.

"I don't even know what to say, I really don't," said Bryan.

"Best gift anyone has ever given me.

Bryan Herta (centre), Alex Zanardi (left) and Tony Kanann stand on the podium in the 1998 CART race at Laguna Seca.

"I can't wait to turn 60 to see what I get," he joked.

"You did good. I love it so much. I don't know where I'm going to keep it."

The pair have already started planning a test day for Herta to get reacquainted with the car, with the site of his last victory mooted.

Colton will contest the Indianapolis 500 on Monday, May 29 where he'll start from 21st on the grid.

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