Andretti Autosport has extended the contract with Alexander Rossi, so the American also will race in Indycar for the upcoming seasons.
It’s not clear exactly how long the contract is, but the team just says that it’s a multi-year deal.
That puts an end to all speculations regarding Rossi, and a potential switch to Team Penske. It’s been publicly known for some time, that his contract with Andretti Autosport was up at the end of this year, and Rossi has already had some connections to Team Penske, with their Acura programme in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, where he has been the third driver in the long races.
Rossi has raced for Andretti Autosport since 2016, where he arrived after a more or less failed Formula 1 career, at the back of the field. He got the chance to switch in 2016, and after an average start to the year, he really put his name on everybody’s lips at the Indy 500 race in 2016, where he took a surprising win.
The momentum stalled quite a bit again after that, and the 2017 season was nothing special, with just one victory at Watkins Glen. That all changed in the 2018, where he was fighting for the Championship all season long, ended up second behind Scott Dixon, after an intense year of fighting.
Photo: JJ Media
He has won two races so far in 2019, and currently sits second, right behind Josef Newgarden.
It’s positive to see Rossi staying at Andretti Autosport, so there will remain at least three teams, who can fight for the Championship. Team Penske drivers are always title candidates, and Chip Ganassi Racing usually has at least one candidate too.
Especially Honda is happy for Rossi, and it’s the connection which puts him in the Acura DPi car in the IMSA series as well, in what normally would be a bit strange combo, to race for two competing teams.
Andretti Autosport has also extended with NAPA Autoparts and Autonation, so they will be the primary sponsors for next season.
Alexander Rossi will start today’s NTT IndyCar Series at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course from second position.
