Alexander Rossi, winner of the Indianapolis 500. [Andy Clary Photo]
by Joe Jennings
INDIANAPOLIS – Alexander Rossi, who won the historic 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday morning for the victor’s photoshoot and to begin an extended series of interviews with world-wide media outlets, a scenario that goes along with winning the most prestigious race in the world. And he did it as a virtual unknown rookie driver.
Rookie drivers have now succeeded at Indianapolis on 10 occasions and Helio Castroneves was the last driver to do so in 2001. Rookies have won the first 500, the 50th and now the 100th edition of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
To put the victory in perspective, Rossi had never seen the Indianapolis Motor Speedway until March and only drove his first laps around the gigantic 2.5-mile oval in early May. At first, the speed dazzled him. However, he adapted quickly and has been fast since getting here and seems to have found a comfort level with the speeds turned.
Going into the 500, Rossi said even though he was composed, he could feel the tension in his team’s garage on race morning and was completely blown away with the enormity of the crowd and the pre-race pageantry. But upon getting into the car, his relaxation factor took over.
Even though the 500 marked his second career oval-track race, he found the pace exhilarating and his confidence built as the race progressed. Troubles with refueling equipment during two pit-stops dampened his spirits and dropped him in the running order, but thanks to the game plan devised by team strategist and co-owner Bryan Herta, they not only made up lost ground but paved the way to victory.
Rossi admitted he held his breath as the race neared conclusion, watching his gauges closely as his fuel supply was nearly depleted. By accident, he had to adjust his racing line upon coming up on a slower car, and the maneuver improved his mileage numbers, so he did it again.
“I had a big moment in Turn 2 and bailed out of the throttle and my fuel number was above what I needed, so I figured out a technique that worked quite well,” the winner said.
Upon taking the checkered flag, he not only ran out of fuel but admitted he was stunned that he had just won the legendary race, so stunned he thought he was in no condition to drive the No. 98 NAPA Chevrolet into victory lane.
“I was a basket case. I couldn’t even see, so it was good that I ran out of fuel,” the Californian said. “I was stunned then and am still trying to come to grasp with it. It is a race where you have to have everything go right and that’s why the race is so great, which makes it so special.”
In victory lane, Rossi admitted he didn’t know how to act, what to say, how much milk to drink and on and on. “I had no idea what to do and even though I have watched the race on television, I had never watched a victory lane ceremony. I have it down now,” he said with a smile.
Rossi has only driven in six Verizon IndyCar Series races and he said his focus is strictly on the Series and not on Formula 1 where he had previously been determined to conquer. “One of the things I am most happy about is that we got 100 points yesterday (the race paid double points) and that puts us back into the championship hunt.”
Rossi goes down in history as the winner of the historic 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 and as fans get to know the driver and his laid-back personality, his humor and his talent, they will rightfully see him as a rising star, one the Verizon IndyCar Series can showcase for the future.
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