Rossi to re-sign with Andretti Autosport for 2017 (7th Update)
The 25-year-old IndyCar rookie of the year considered a return to Formula 1 after his landmark first series win "opened many doors," but began indicating in recent months his affinity for IndyCar.
Andretti Autosports said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports on Saturday: "We are working diligently toward a program for Alexander in 2017, but at this point nothing has been signed. There is not a signed contract in place."
That, of course, doesn't mean there won’t be one soon. We think Andretti wants to make a proper announcement, so the deal is essentially done.
10/01/16 UPDATE
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| Alexander Rossi |
This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today and our Silly Season page updated. On the heels of the official news that Bryan Herta will again be part of Andretti Autosport, RACER reports what we all assumed – that Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi has signed a multi-year deal to continue in IndyCar with the Honda team that showed real progress at the end of 2016. In his first year in the series he won rookie of the year, the Indy 500 and the Indy 500 rookie of the year. Considering how slow the Hondas were this year, quite an achievement. And he appears right on pace with team leader Ryan Hunter-Reay, considered by many as the best driver in the series.
09/25/16 Alexander Rossi says he is looking forward to sharing 'some very good news' about his motorsport future after adding IndyCar rookie of the year honors to a similar award he was guaranteed after winning the Indianapolis 500 at the first attempt.
The former F1 hopeful finished his debut Verizon IndyCar Series season eleventh overall, adding the uncontested honor of becoming Sunoco Rookie of the Year to his May accolades. In a spectacular final race of the season, set against the backdrop of Rossi's home state, the Californian driver claimed another 60 points, leaving him with a season tally of 430 overall at the end of a phenomenal season.
Although he narrowly missed out on the qualifying 'Fast Six' by just one-hundredth of a second, and would start his final race of the season in P8 as a result, Rossi entertained his 100+ guests at Sonoma by making a strong start, shooting the #98 Andretti Autosport car up the field to run P6 by the end of the first lap. Keeping clear of events on track, and with some brilliant maneuvers, the former Marussia F1 pilot quickly settled into a race rhythm and remained at the sharp end with a podium result at his home race within reach.
Racing in fourth, he began to close the gap to the top three as the final third of the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma played out and, as the final few laps of his battle with fellow American — and Andretti teammate — Ryan Hunter-Reay unfolded, looked set for a top finish. However, as the pair approached the final few corners on the final lap, Rossi's #98 ran out of fuel — just as it had at Indianapolis – and he had to relinquish the position to Hunter-Reay, finishing in fifth overall.
"The race was really strong until the last corner," Rossi lamented, "We hit our fuel numbers the whole race, so it must have been a glitch in calibration numbers feeding back to the pit wall. Out of turn eleven on the final stretch, the car fell flat on its face and allowed Ryan by me. It's a shame because I had kept him behind me the whole race. It's weird how this sport works sometimes; winning the biggest race in history earlier in the year the same way…."
Although he has yet to confirm his plans for 2017, Rossi is hopeful that his performance this year will not only have opened eyes to his ability elsewhere, but also cemented his position as an IndyCar driver of note going forward.
"It was a fantastic year for my first season in Indycar," he concluded, "Huge credit to the team for what we accomplished from St Pete onward, developing our car. Andretti is a top notch team and it's been a real pleasure to work with the whole team and Honda this year. I want to thank everyone involved for the opportunity they have given me in 2016 and I look forward to sharing some very good news about my future soon."
09/20/16 This rumor is upgraded to 'strong' today. Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi is drawing closer to adding his name to a new three-year extension to stay with the blended Andretti-Herta Autosport team. Multiple sources have confirmed a plan is in place to keep Rossi with the Honda-powered team, and signing one remaining sponsor is all that's needed to finalize the deal.
Although the Californian has been mentioned as a possible candidate for a roster spot at Team Penske, the Andretti-Herta outfit anticipates having everything in place by the end of the month to put a contract in front of Rossi that would keep him through 2019.
"Looking ahead to next year, I'd love to come back to IndyCar 100 percent," Rossi told RACER Tuesday morning. "I really enjoyed the experience, albeit from the competitive side we had our challenges, and I think we worked through some of them — I'd love to be able to come back and show what we're capable of. But it's not up to me. I'm talking to Andretti, obviously, but I have some other potential options just in case."
With Josef Newgarden headed to Penske, Rossi says his greatest interest is to find competitiveness and stability, if possible, through a multi-year contract.
"For me the top priority has always been to have the best potential to win, but throughout my career I'm used to not having stability; in Europe, one-year deals are normal so something more than that would be great," he added. "I'm just looking for the deal that's going to put me in the best position to win and fight for a championship."
Rossi closed his first season in the Verizon IndyCar Series by earning Rookie of the Year honors, and was on pace to stand on the podium at this home track in Sonoma until his No. 98 Honda ran out of fuel in the final corner. Altogether, the 24-year-old went from trailing the field on his debut to becoming a vital part of Andretti's program in a span of seven months. Marshall Pruett/Racer.com
09/02/16
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| Because of the low TV ratings on NBCSN and therefore the lack of big sponsors, even the Indy 500 winner has to buy his ride. |
Bringing Indianapolis 500 champion Alexander Rossi back to Andretti Autosport for next season depends on landing a sponsor for the No. 98 car, team owner Michael Andretti said Friday.
Andretti said Rossi is all but signed for a second Verizon IndyCar Series season; securing the sponsorship is the final hurdle.
“I can’t make that commitment without the sponsor," Andretti told IndyStar at Watkins Glen International, where IndyCar will stage its penultimate race Sunday (2:30 p.m., NBCSN).
Andretti said 2017 programs are secure for one-time series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti. Team officials are also in talks with Carlos Munoz, who has driven for the Indianapolis-based team since the 2013 Indianapolis 500. This is Munoz’s 52nd IndyCar race, all but one with Andretti (he replaced Ryan Briscoe in Panther Racing’s car for the second race at Toronto in 2013).
One aspect of Andretti’s program secured for next year is the manufacturer relationship. Andretti said Honda asked him to extend through next season, and he obliged. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing similarly signed for next year. Other teams still must settle their engine/bodywork contracts for ’17.
09/02/16 Alexander Rossi appears to have multiple options for 2017 in IndyCar and at least one in Formula 1. According to the surefire Verizon IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year, remaining in America is atop his wish list.
"Oh yeah, I am entertaining it, definitely," Rossi told RACER. "We have been considering it as an option, really, for a good couple of months now. And we're working to try to put something together. This time of the year is always tough. You think things are going to go one way and most of the time it doesn't. But we are putting our best foot forward and definitely looking at IndyCar for next year and in the future."
After the IndyCar season ends on Sept. 18, Rossi's ongoing association with the Manor F1 team will have the 24-year-old complete his role as a reserve and test driver through the grand prix finale at Abu Dhabi on Nov. 27. During that timeframe, sorting out an extension with the Andretti-Herta Autosport team will be a priority for the team and its young charger.
"Sonoma is going to come and then I have got to finish up my Formula 1 contract," said Rossi, who sits between IndyCar champions Ryan Hunter-Reay and Juan Montoya in the championship. "So as much as it is difficult to go to the track and not drive, I have to make it my full priority. That is my job. And I owe that to the team. As soon as Sonoma finishes there will obviously be the continuing discussions on continuing in IndyCar, but I have to focus on the Formula 1 side of things for a couple more months to finish it up."
Although inquiries about Rossi's availability have made by other entrants in the IndyCar paddock, a return to the blended Andretti Autosport and Bryan Herta Autosport team appears to be his highest priority.
"We have been very fortunate to have interest from other sides, but I love working at Andretti and they are the team that we are obviously closest to because we have the relationship," he said. "I have nothing negative to say and I think the organization is great. And I really like the structure of it. So we are definitely speaking to them most — but, as always, you need to have B and C plans in place." Marshall Pruett/Racer.com
08/23/16 With today's announcement that hhgregg will sponsor Marco Andretti in 2017, the rumor that an extension for Rossi would be announced to today is downgraded to false.
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| Will Rossi resign and get a sponsor for his sidepods? |
08/22/16 Rumor has it that Alexander Rossi will re-sign with Andretti Autosport for 2017 in an announcement to be made Tuesday.
We hear a sponsor will be announced as well. Will it be NAPA?