Rossi Takes Third and Fourth Consecutive Podiums at IndyCar Harvest GP Doubleheader
The INDYCAR Harvest GP Doubleheader event was full of hardware for Alexander Rossi and his NAPA AutoCare crew as they earned podium finishes in both Race 1 and Race 2, coming home second and third, respectively. The back-to-back top-three result extends Rossi’s podium streak to four in a row exiting the Championship’s penultimate event.
Rossi took to qualifying Friday in the first group, but the group lost valuable green-flag running time due to a red flag caused by Takuma Sato. Without the opportunity to put down a fast lap on Firestone Red tires, Rossi started the race from eighth and climbed his way to the second position before taking the checkered.
“Having some things go right for us, things not go wrong and I executed,” said Rossi. “We unlocked a bit of pace in the car. Huge hats off to the whole entire Andretti Autosport organization and Honda, this place has never been good to us in terms of performance so to get a podium here is awesome.”
Switching to the AutoNation Drive Pink color for Saturday’s race, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Rossi posted his best qualifying result of the season, starting from third. After battling for 75 laps, the 27 crossed the finish line in equal position.
Rossi said following Race 2, “Another good day. It was the best qualifying we’ve had all year so it’s good to be able so start up front, finally. Ultimately, we tried something different with our tire choice in the last stint – I’m not mad about it – but it was the wrong choice. Did it cost us the win? Maybe not. Did it cost us second? Probably. But, ultimately, four races, four podiums and we’re pretty happy.”
With 80 total career INDYCAR races under his belt, Rossi now holds a total of 24 podium finishes and 51 top tens. The NAPA Racing driver climbed three spots in the championship standings and enters the season finale in ninth.
Start / Finish:
Race 1, October 2: 8 / 2
Race 2, October 3: 3 / 3
Points Earned: 75
Points Standing / Total: 9th / 305 pts.
Next Race: Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Season Finale, Oct. 25
How to Watch or Listen: NBC, NBC Gold and INDYCAR Radio Network Sirius 214//XM 209
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.