Video: Indy 500 Champion Alexander Rossi, Make Victory Tour Stop In Dallas (Update)

UPDATE Alexander Rossi's cross-country media tour this week following his Indianapolis 500 victory included a stop in Dallas for lunch with Texas Motor Speedway season-ticketholders. The Verizon IndyCar Series heads to TMS for the Firestone 600 on June 10-11.

While Rossi's appearance was a highlight, the new American hero may have been upstaged by junior karting sensation Ashlyn Speed. The 11-year-old Texan missed school to attend the luncheon for a chance to meet Rossi.

She even requested Rossi write a written absence excuse letter for Brooke Moose, the school principal at Bear Creek Elementary in Euless, Texas. The note read: "Please excuse Ashlyn Speed from school on Wednesday because she is getting to meet the 2016 Indy 500 winner, Alexander Rossi." Rossi added a handwritten addendum that read: "Ms. Moose, Thank you for letting Ashlyn come," and signed the bottom of the note.

TMS president Eddie Gossage invited Speed on stage to take part in a ceremonial milk toast with Rossi to conclude the luncheon. With the famous Borg-Warner wreath draped around her neck, Speed chugged the champagne flute of milk symbolic of the tradition that takes place in Victory Circle at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the winners of the Indianapolis 500.

06/02/16 Alexander Rossi was visiting Dallas as part of the Indy 500 Champion’s Tour and to promote the Firestone 600 Verizon IndyCar Series race scheduled for Saturday, June 11, at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas.