Skip to content

Rossi Scores Sixth at IndyCar Return to Gateway

Alexander-Rossi-IndyCar-Gateway-Motorsports-Park-2017-NAPA-AUTO-PARTS-98-office

Alexander Rossi finished a strong sixth at Gateway Motorsports Park Saturday night, moving up to seventh in the Verizon IndyCar Series Championship.

After a 14 year absence, Gateway Motorsports Park returned to the IndyCar Series schedule this weekend for the Bommartio Automotive Group 500. The field of 21 drivers paraded around the 1.25-mile track before the green flag waved in front of over 40,000 fans, all excited to see Indy car racing back in their town. Fireworks lit up the night sky as the competitors came to the start/finish line to take the green flag.

 

Verizon IndyCar SeriesBommarito Automotive Group 500Gateway Motorsports Park, Madison, IL USAFriday 25 August 2017Alexander Rossi, Curb Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian HondaWorld Copyright: Perry NelsonLAT Images

 

Rossi qualified ninth on Friday evening and his teammate Takuma Sato qualified sixth. Eventual pole-sitter Will Power’s first qualifying lap of 189.709 mph shattered the 20-year-old track record set by Raul Boesel in 1997.

Saturday night’s initial green flag was waved off after Tony Kanaan spun on the final parade lap, stalling his car on the track surface. Though the green was not waved with the first lap, the time and lap count began and the field finally came to a green flag five laps into the 248-lap event. The green-flag conditions were short lived, though, after the cars of Power, Sato and Ed Carpenter collided resulting in the second yellow period of the race. The restarts for each yellow had fans on their feet and were inclusive of passes and position battles before the drivers settled into their positions.

 

Alexander Rossi

 

“It was a pretty hard night, but I think the whole NAPA AUTO PARTS team really capitalized on the opportunities that were given to us,” said Rossi. “To come home sixth on a track that’s dominant for the other manufacturer, I think is a solid result and that’s what we were looking for all weekend.”

Continued Rossi, “Maybe we could have been a couple spots higher, but at the end of the night, we brought the car home and that was a solid race. The pace was good and there was really nothing to complain about on a track where we knew we were going to be at a deficit. It’s nice to come away with a top six (finish).”

 

Verizon IndyCar SeriesBommarito Automotive Group 500Gateway Motorsports Park, Madison, IL USAFriday 25 August 2017Alexander Rossi, Curb Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian HondaWorld Copyright: Perry NelsonLAT Images

 

“Happy for another good finish, and happy to move up in the points,” said Rob Edwards, Strategist for No. 98 and Chief Operating Officer for Andretti Autosport. “Great work in the pits from the guys on the last stop, and another solid drive from Alexander. Looking forward to Watkins Glen and building on our strong test there a couple of weeks ago.”

Points leader Josef Newgarden went on to win the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Valvoline, and his teammate Simon Pagenaud was third. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon finished second. The Verizon IndyCar Series travels to Watkins Glen International Raceway for the third of three-consecutive race weekends before heading to Sonoma’s season finale race on Sept. 17.

 

Start / Finish: 9th / 6th
Points Earned: 28
Points Standing / Total: 7th / 422

 

Alexander Rossi with fans

 

Next Race: INDYCAR Grand Prix at The Glen, Sunday, September 3 at 1:30 p.m. ET
How to Watch or Listen: NBC Sports Network or INDYCAR Radio on Sirius XM

 

NAPA@NAPARacing
Alexander Rossi: @AlexanderRossi
Andretti Autosport: @FollowAndretti

Andretti Autosport View All

Andretti Autosport, led by racing legend Michael Andretti, boasts a wide racing portfolio rooted in tradition and designed for success.

Under the banners of Andretti Autosport and Avalanche Andretti Formula E, the Indianapolis-based team fields multiple entries across the INDYCAR SERIES, Indy Lights, the FIA Formula E World Championship and the IMSA Prototype Challenge LMP3 division. The team also competes as Walkinshaw Andretti United in the Australian Supercars category through partnership with Walkinshaw Racing and United Autosports additionally the team fields an entry in the Extreme E championship via Andretti United Extreme E.

The global racing enterprise boasts four INDYCAR SERIES championships, five Indy Light titles, one Pro Mazda championship, a Silver Class GT4 Championship and has captured victory five times at the famed Indianapolis 500. The team also holds two X Games Gold Medals and five U.S. rallycross championships.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *