ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin – There was tremendous potential predicted for Colton Herta when he entered the NTT IndyCar Series as an 18-year-old rookie at the start of the 2019 season.

Herta has not only lived up to that expectation, he has exceeded it.

On Saturday at Road America, Herta became the youngest pole winner in IndyCar Series history at 19 years, 83 days. He will lead the field to the green flag for Sunday’s REV Group Grand Prix at Road America (noon ET, NBC).

As important, Herta is proving that INDYCAR’s ladder system – the Road to Indy program – works in preparing drivers for advancement.

“He's obviously doing a very nice job as a rookie,” Team Penske driver and 2017 IndyCar Series champion Josef Newgarden said in response to a question from NTT INDYCAR Mobile. “It's great for the ladder series to see that. You see the proof of the ladder series that team owners can look to that talent pool now and pull directly from it, which I think is fantastic. That's what you want.

“We've had that over the last 10 years, but it seems like there's more proof recently that it's a successful product. So, he's done a great job. He is really, really on it.

“It looks like he's pushing his teammates every weekend which is what you want to do as a rookie. I'm sure he's thrilled with his performance right now.”

Newgarden is himself a Road to Indy product. He was the 2011 Indy Lights Series champion when he won five races for team owner Sam Schmidt.

“It's great; it's American talent,” Newgarden continued. “I think we pride ourselves on having the best from around the world. You don't just want American drivers.

“It's nice when you see young, talented Americans come through the system, have a good opportunity and find success. I think everyone likes that.”

Team Penske’s Will Power is from Toowoomba, Australia and represents the international aspect of the NTT IndyCar Series. Power is highly impressed with the maturity and development of Herta in his rookie season in INDYCAR.

“I think he's probably surprised a lot of people, other drivers in the paddock,” Power told NTT INDYCAR Mobile. “We watched the Indy Lights championship last year. Pato O'Ward was really the guy we were looking at, but, yeah, Colton has done a solid, solid job.

“He is seriously quick; seriously fast.”

Ironically, Herta never won a championship in his two seasons of Indy Lights competition. He was third in the championship in 2017 and finished second to teammate O’Ward last year.

But Herta’s time in Indy Lights taught him some valuable lessons that he has been able to apply in the NTT IndyCar Series.

“It's extremely important,” Herta told NTT INDYCAR Mobile. “I think the main thing is just getting to see the tracks before you get to IndyCar. You get to see most of the tracks. You're racing on I think 10 weekends of the IndyCar schedule. You see most of the tracks. The cars are actually pretty similar to drive.

“Cooper does a good job with their tire. Actually, the balance of the car and the technique of the driving isn't too far off. I think that's why you saw me coming into the series or Pato coming into the series and being able to be on pace right away because it's not super different, it's just faster.”

Herta has proven to be fast on the track and a quicker learner in the NTT IndyCar Series.