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Rookie Wins Indy 500: Alexander Rossi Rocks Auto Racing World

By Kirsten Silven
Published on: 13:38 PST, May 29, 2016

Ushering in a new era of auto racing, a virtually unknown rookie took home the win at the Indianapolis 500 Sunday. According to the Indianapolis Star, Alexander Rossi – who is just 24-years-old – is the first rookie to win the Indy 500 since Helio Castroneves in 2001. And making this one of the more unusual rookie wins in the history of the Indianapolis 500, Rossi accomplished the feat by crossing the finish line on little more than fumes in the 100th running of the iconic car race.

“I have no idea how we pulled that off,” he told the Indianapolis Star from victory lane. “We struggled a little in the pit stops… I can’t believe that we’ve done this.”

In fact, Rossi had so little fuel left after crossing the finish line that he couldn’t even make it to the victory circle and the car had to be towed.

“I’m just thankful to do this on the 100th running,” Rossi added. “We rolled the dice and it came through.”

In one of the most stunning wins ever recorded, and during the historic 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 – a race the sporting world has dubbed “The Greatest Spectacle In Racing” – rookie Rossi started the race in 11th place and was a 66-to-1 long shot. He was certainly not the driver most major racing pundits or longtime fans expected to win Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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According to the Associated Press, California native Alexander Rossi used a clever fuel strategy to outsmart other drivers – many of whom were driving the most dominant cars in the 2016 Indianapolis 500. Stretching his final tank of gas to hit 90 miles, the rookie driver cycled into the lead as others were forced to duck back into the pits for a last fuel stop during the final laps.

“He was sputtering on the final lap, working his clutch and getting screamed at by team co-owner Bryan Herta to conserve fuel,” wrote the AP. “And he ultimately ran out of gas after taking the checkered flag.”

Rossi says he stayed focused on winning by taking the race one lap at a time and called the “emotional rollercoaster” that is the Indy 500 “ridiculous;” an understandable sentiment given the driver’s rookie status.

“There were moments I was really stoked, really heartbroken, really stoked,” he shared. “I was like, ‘Wow,’ I’ll need to see a psychiatrist after this.'”

Throughout the entire race, Alexander Rossi definitely didn’t have the speed of fellow driver Carlos Munoz, who pressed him hard during the last 50 miles or so. But like the others, the Colombian had to stop for fuel in the final laps of the Indianapolis 500, giving rookie Rossi the edge to clinch the win, despite his slow speed of just 179.784 mph during the final lap. Munoz wound up taking second place in what amounted to two wins for Andretti Autosport.

“I was really disappointed when it comes to fuel and you lose the race because of that,” an emotional Munoz told the AP. “I was really disappointed to get second. Half a lap short. What can I say? The only thing I’m clear about is that I will win this race one day.”

Although Munoz has raced a car in the Indianapolis 500 before, Rossi is a definite IndyCar rookie who has dreamed of driving in Formula One since the tender young age of 10. Although he is also a relief driver for Manor Racing in F1, the rookie has no scheduled races right now and he says IndyCar is his top commitment. He currently drives for Brian Herta in partnership with Andretti Autosport.

[Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images]

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