Alexander Rossi

Alexander Michael Rossi (born 25 September 1991) is an American racing driver who competed in Formula One in 2015 and has achieved significant success in IndyCar racing, most notably winning the 2016 Indianapolis 500 as a rookie. Born in Nevada City, California, Rossi pursued his racing career through the European junior formula ladder, a path taken by many American drivers seeking to reach Formula One. He served as a test and development driver for Caterham F1 and Marussia F1 before making his Formula One debut, gaining valuable experience with the cars and teams while awaiting his race opportunity. Rossi's Formula One racing debut came in 2015 for the renamed Manor Marussia F1 Team, becoming the first American to race in a Grand Prix since Scott Speed in 2007.

He drove in five Grands Prix during the 2015 season: Singapore, Japan, United States, Mexico, and Brazil. At the Singapore Grand Prix, he qualified twentieth and last for his debut but rallied to finish fourteenth, just ahead of teammate Will Stevens, despite losing radio communication around the halfway point. At the Japanese Grand Prix, he finished 18th, again one place above Stevens. His best result came at the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, where he finished twelfth, equaling Manor Marussia's best result of the season and becoming the first American driver to race at a purpose-built Formula One circuit in the United States.

He finished 15th in Mexico and 19th in Brazil, completing his five-race stint. Despite signing for Andretti Autosport in IndyCar for 2016, Rossi returned as a reserve driver for the reformed Manor Racing for the 2016 Formula One season. After Rio Haryanto lost his Manor drive following the German Grand Prix, Rossi was offered the opportunity to take his place as a full-time driver for the remainder of the season; however, he declined the offer due to his IndyCar contract commitments, choosing to focus on American racing. Rossi's decision proved prophetic when he won the 2016 Indianapolis 500 on his debut in the race, delivering one of the most dramatic Indianapolis 500 victories in history.

Running with the Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian team, Rossi won "on fumes," benefiting from a fuel-saving strategy that extended his final stint while other frontrunners were forced to make late splash-and-dash pit stops. His victory in the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 as a rookie instantly made him a star in American motorsport and validated his decision to leave Formula One for IndyCar. Beyond his Indianapolis 500 victory, Rossi has achieved multiple race wins in the IndyCar Series and consistently contended for the championship in subsequent seasons, establishing himself as one of IndyCar's elite drivers. In endurance racing, he claimed victory at the 2021 24 Hours of Daytona, one of sports car racing's most prestigious events, demonstrating his versatility across different racing disciplines.

Rossi's IndyCar career has been highly successful, featuring regular podium finishes, pole positions, and championship contention, achievements that contrast sharply with his limited Formula One opportunity. His career exemplifies how talented drivers can find greater success and satisfaction in alternative racing series when Formula One opportunities prove limited or uncompetitive. Rossi represents the modern American racing driver who briefly attempted Formula One but found far greater success and recognition competing in IndyCar, where his skills could be properly demonstrated in competitive machinery.