Ferrucci apologizes for homophobic remark in Detroit

Santino Ferrucci is apologizing for his fiery comments spoken to NBC after Saturday morning’s practice session at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.

The testy words were in response to on-track clashes with Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood and Colton Herta, and a heated pit-lane exchange with Kirkwood, that included a homophobic dig at Herta, who the A.J. Foyt Racing driver referred to as Kirkwood’s “little boyfriend teammate.”

With the NTT IndyCar Series having one of the strongest LGBTIQA+ fan bases in motor racing, Ferrucci’s shot at Herta drew the ire of the series as well, who admonished the 26-year-old and “expressed its displeasure” with the Connecticut native.

“Man, I just apologize for the comments,” Ferrucci told RACER. “I was very out of line, very out of pocket, especially in Pride Month. It’s not at all what I want to convey as myself, and I’d like to hold myself in a better light.”

Among the most combative and polarizing drivers in the series, Ferrucci isn’t afraid to go after bigger drivers and teams, but his fighting spirit also comes with a downside as he’s often shunned or ridiculed by many of his rivals.

It would be accurate to state that Ferrucci, Herta, and Kirkwood weren’t in a friendly place prior to the morning dust-up, which he says contributed to the overly harsh words and reaction to the Andretti duo. But he also says their strained relationship was by no means an excuse for his ensuing behavior.

“With all the tensions going on, after all that stuff happened, I just let my emotions get the better of me in that interview,” Ferrucci added.
“And now I just want to really apologize to the community, and to Colton and to Kyle for that.”