Alexander Rossi talks Indianapolis 500, consuming milk, and going quick with SB Nation

Indianapolis.

Within the sporting world there are a couple of single phrases that instantly spark the creativeness, and conjure up photos which are seared into the collective reminiscence of generations. Indianapolis is actually one, as that one phrase provokes photos of bricks, milk, and velocity.

The 108th Indianapolis 500 is that this weekend, one of many marquee occasions on the motorsport calendar annually. It’s an occasion that Alexander Rossi is aware of nicely, having received this race as a rookie again in 2016. Forward of this yr’s installment SB Nation spoke with Rossi about what it takes to win in Indianapolis, what it means to win the five hundred, and whether or not beginning fourth he can win once more.

However first, a easy query, one I had been trying ahead to asking him ever since his last qualifying laps on Sunday within the Firestone Quick Six.

What does a mean of 234 miles per hour round Indianapolis Motor Speedway really feel — and sound — like?

“Sound, I don’t actually know that it appears like something,” mentioned Rossi earlier this week.

“However really feel, I imply, it’s fairly wild.”

Qualifying — and racing — at Indianapolis

“Indianapolis qualifying is the toughest 4 laps that you simply’re going to do as a race automobile driver each single yr,” mentioned Rossi to me on Tuesday.

Our dialogue started with a concentrate on qualifying for the Indianapolis 500, which takes place over two days. Rossi’s efficiency on Saturday — the place he averaged 233.069 miles per hour over his 4 laps — put him into the Sunday’s Prime 12, preserving his shot at pole place alive. On Sunday Rossi’s four-lap common within the Prime 12 was 233.071, which was fourth-fastest and adequate to maneuver onto the Firestone Quick Six, as one of many last six drivers with a shot at pole.

His four-lap common velocity within the Quick Six was 233.090, which included an first lap which averaged over 234 mph, resulting in that opening query. The hassle was adequate for fourth, the place he’ll begin on Sunday.

Not unhealthy given the notion that it’s the hardest laps of the season.

The rationale it’s so onerous? It’s since you are proper on the sting all the time, defined Rossi.

“And the rationale for that’s as a result of, you understand, at Indianapolis, you’re full throttle round the entire lap, proper? However if you happen to make it straightforward, that signifies that your high velocity goes to be too gradual,” mentioned Rossi. “So your common goes to be affected.

“Should you make it too onerous, you understand, you’re going to have the ability to do the primary two laps fairly efficiently, however laps three and 4, you could have to elevate out of the throttle. And so then you definately’re gonna have a mean velocity that’s decreased as nicely. So that you’re looking for this, this stability of your full throttle for 4 laps, however like barely.”

Discovering that stability requires much more than simply working the throttle. Over the course of every lap Rossi — and the opposite drivers within the subject — are taking note of each little element, making the changes as essential to the automobile on the fly.

“And so what meaning is you’re actually having to concentrate to the tremendous finite particulars of what’s happening. So, you understand, twice a lap, you’re checking the wind path,” mentioned Rossi. “You’re making an attempt to know how the stability of the automobile is altering because the tires are beginning to degrade, the gasoline stage is clearly coming down, and the minutia element issues.”

It is likely one of the sport’s final thrills, however even Rossi admitted that you’re additionally completely satisfied when it’s over.

“So, all of it occurs very fast however as a lot because it’s a bit of bit terrifying and difficult, it’s superior on the similar time,” defined Rossi. “So Indy qualifying is one in every of my favourite issues that I get to do annually, however on the similar time, I’m all the time relieved when it’s over with.”

Rossi known as the trouble over the weekend “actually good,” and believes the staff is in good condition heading into the Indianapolis 500.

“Yeah, it was actually good,” mentioned Rossi once I requested him to sum up his qualifying weekend. “I imply, I feel Arrow McLaren and Group Chevy particularly, did an unbelievable job within the off season to actually proceed the progress and the event ahead.

“You recognize, this place punishes very small errors. It’s very unforgiving. And so for us as a company final yr, we have been the one staff to get 4 vehicles within the high 12. And so there was a bit of little bit of a goal on our again when it comes to, ‘[a]re we going to have the ability to sort of again that up this yr?’ And for us to get three vehicles within the high 12 and two vehicles within the quick six, was actually a giant success and in the end, we didn’t have something on the finish of qualifying for the entrance row,” outlined Rossi. “[B]ut we really feel that now we have a greater general package deal and our race vehicles are extraordinarily aggressive come Sunday.”

Past qualifying itself, there are different features to the Indianapolis 500 that make it such a tough occasion. Arrow McLaren launched a video on social media that featured Rossi and teammate Pato O’Ward speaking about all of the observe hours forward of the Indianapolis 500, and the way these further session could cause issues for the drivers and groups, the place you “spiral yourselves” as a driver.

I requested Rossi to elucidate that concept additional.

“That’s simply the character of this race. It’s the character of the beast since you’re right here for therefore lengthy, proper? Most races that we do, you understand, you present up on a Friday morning. You could have, let’s name it two hours of observe earlier than qualifying and then you definately qualify and then you definately race on Sunday and that’s sort of your weekend, completed,” began the Arrow McLaren driver.

“Whereas the five hundred it’s like 9 days of observe, adopted by qualifying over two days after which two extra days of observe earlier than the race. So you’ve gotten loads of time to love, sort of tempo your self.

“We name it the tail of the dragon, proper?

“You’ll take your self down a path after which notice perhaps that’s not the precise path and then you definately’ll swing too onerous the opposite manner and it’s onerous to remain sort of centered.”

In keeping with Rossi, that’s when expertise performs an enormous function, expertise that he has at Indianapolis.

“And it comes with time and expertise, and I feel you simply study to sort of trip the waves of this place and never react. If someday, you understand, you go to mattress Wednesday night time, let’s say, and the automobile is nice and also you present up Thursday and it’s horrible. You don’t try to overcompensate for it,” added Rossi.

“You settle for that it’s a unique day. The situations are completely different, the wind is completely different.

“You’re at a unique spot and also you simply work on, you understand, smaller issues as a substitute of making an attempt to wholesale [change] the entire automobile.”

One other side that makes the Indianapolis 500 troublesome? Simply how “delicate” Indianapolis Motor Speedway is. It might appear like a easy monitor however to listen to Rossi clarify it, IMS is something however. Right down to the variations between the 4 turns over the two.5 mile monitor.

“Yeah, I imply so now we have what’s known as sort of instruments within the cockpit, proper. So you’ve gotten the power to maneuver cross weight, as much as like 150 kilos from the precise entrance of the automobile to the left entrance of the automobile. And you may change that weight and that may change the stability of the automobile,” defined Rossi.

“And you’ve got identical to in a street automobile, you’ve gotten entrance and rear anti roll bar, sway bars that you would be able to regulate within the cockpit. And so what you’re making an attempt to do is you’re understanding that two, it’s a 2.5 mile monitor, proper? So turns one and two are at one finish they usually’re very comparable. Turns three and 4 on the different finish they usually’re very comparable, however as particular person sections are very completely different from one another.”

Rossi then outlined the variations within the turns, the explanations for these variations, and what he and the opposite drivers shall be doing within the Indianapolis 500 to deal with these variations.

“So you might be often adjusting the automobile twice finish to finish primarily based on wind path, and primarily based on temperature. So like Flip One is all the time shaded as a result of the grandstands are so massive. So Flip One is definitely the best nook on the monitor,” began Rossi.

“Flip Two is likely one of the hardest as a result of it’s essentially the most uncovered by the wind. Flip Three is the most popular as a result of there’s no shade, and Flip 4 is [easy as well].

“So it’s actually, actually fascinating as a result of the radius, the banking, the corners, the width, every thing is equivalent, however they’re all sort of their very own particular sort of beast. So actually, you simply have that understanding. And it’s a problem, you understand, it’s one thing that you would be able to’t choose up in a single day when it comes to sort of figuring out tips on how to learn the monitor,” continued Rossi.

“Nevertheless it actually helps when you’ve gotten a automobile that, you understand, has a wider window and that’s loads of issues that we discuss,” outlined Rossi. “We would make a change that’s higher for general efficiency, however the automobile is sort of an excessive amount of on a knife edge and it’s like, ‘okay, perhaps that’s a qualifying change, however for the race, we don’t need that as a result of that shall be too troublesome to handle over 500 miles.’ So there’s all the time a trigger and impact in racing.

“However at Indianapolis particularly, and there’s no free lunch, proper? There’s all the time a compromise you’re making an attempt to handle simply to be, you understand, nobody’s going to be fully completely satisfied over the lap. You’re simply making an attempt to be happier than everybody else.”

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Successful as a rookie

Again in 2016 Rossi was actually happier than everybody else.

He arrived as a rookie for his first Indianapolis 500, and simply his sixth IndyCar occasion. After years looking for a full-time seat in Components 1, and operating a couple of races on the tail finish of the 2015 F1 season, Rossi signed with Andretti for the 2016 IndyCar season.

The deal was signed late within the offseason, so Rossi missed the majority of preseason testing. He completed twelfth in his first race in IndyCar, the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, After which 14th, twentieth, and fifteenth over the following few races.

His first top-ten end got here in Indianapolis, within the Grand Prix of Indianapolis, held on the street course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Rossi certified eleventh, tops among the many rookies within the subject, after which inherited the lead within the closing laps of the 2016 Indianapolis 500 as leaders pitted for last gasoline stops.

The staff gambled, leaving Rossi out to try to make it to the end. In simply his sixth race, along with his staff teaching him on tips on how to preserve gasoline, Rossi was within the lead.

He then ran out of gasoline.

Rossi got here out of Flip 4 on the ultimate lap and coasted to the end line, hoping he would get there earlier than a hard-charging Carlos Muñoz caught him.

He acquired there simply in time, successful the 2016 Indianapolis 500 as a rookie, and in simply his sixth IndyCar begin. It was additionally a landmark victory, because it was the a centesimal installment of the historic race.

I requested Rossi how that win felt.

“Fairly bizarre,” admitted Rossi once we talked Tuesday. “I’ll be sincere, as a result of it was not one thing that I used to be anticipating.”

In actual fact, as a result of he was not anticipating to win in 2016, a few of the accomplishment was nearly misplaced on him.

“Actually nobody concerned within the race was anticipating that. And so it was, I’ll be sincere, it was misplaced on me as a result of this isn’t solely my first race collaborating in it, nevertheless it was my first one I’d ever been to,” defined Rossi. So, I didn’t know every thing that went into what makes the Indy 500 what it’s.”

Rossi then outlined the variations between successful, and successful the Indianapolis 500.

“Should you win a race, like, let’s say in Lengthy Seashore earlier within the IndyCar season, proper? Individuals have fun that on Sunday after which sort of by Monday, you progress on and, and nothing’s actually talked about. It was like ‘good job’ and on to the following one.

“You win the Indy 500 for a yr.

“There’s issues which are a part of the ceremony like successful traditions, proper, that you simply’re part of, and it’s a very cool course of to turn out to be an envoy for the following yr’s occasion,” defined Rossi. “And so via that course of, I actually discovered about what it means to this collection and particularly what it means to the state of Indiana, now dwelling right here for the previous six years.”

One of the memorable elements of that yr as an Indianapolis 500 winner?

Seeing his likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy.

“So if you happen to win this race, there isn’t actually a trophy however there that you simply get, however there may be what’s known as the Borg-Warner Trophy. And it’s very comparable in essence to the Stanley Cup, proper? You recognize, the entire drivers, their likeness, like a small sculpture of their face, is put onto this trophy and the collection owns the trophy.

“And so for me, it was, I feel in January the yr after, the Borg-Warner Trophy was sort of unveiled with my face on it. And that was a fairly cool realization. That, you understand, you take a look at the names you have been subsequent to, proper?

“Castroneves. Foyt. Andretti.

“And it was like, ‘[y]ou’re now, you’re now part of that group. You’re now part of the historical past of this race.’ And as cool as it’s to win it, it’s even cooler to know that in 20 or 30 years, I can take my child to see that trophy and say ‘hey, look, that’s me.’”

Nevertheless, successful one Indianapolis 500 has actually made Rossi hungry for a second.

“I feel there’s sort of two individuals within the subject, proper? You could have the blokes which are so determined to win it as a result of it’s what they’ve dreamed of their entire profession they usually’ve both come shut or, you understand, had close to misses or no matter, however they haven’t fairly received it but,” outlined Rossi. “After which you’ve gotten the group of eight of us this yr which have received it earlier than and I nearly suppose the motivation for us eight is greater as a result of, you understand, you understand what you’re lacking each time you don’t win it. And so it’s a very distinctive expertise to win this race.

“And I actually would have an entire completely different set of feelings if I used to be in a position to get one other one.”

I requested Rossi what it means to him figuring out that irrespective of the place his profession goes subsequent, the phrases “winner of the Indianapolis 500” will all the time be connected to his identify. He admitted that it was a troublesome query to reply, however that successful in 2016 modified the trajectory of his life.

“I don’t know that I’ve a solution for that but as a result of I’m nonetheless making an attempt to win one other one. I’m nonetheless making an attempt. There’s a lot I wish to accomplish nonetheless on this sport,” mentioned Rossi.

“However I’ll say that it actually modified the trajectory of my profession and gave me a house on this collection and allowed me to sort of re-establish myself as a race automobile driver within the US. You recognize, I got here right here in 2016, sort of on a last-minute, one-year deal,” continued the motive force.

“When the Components One deal that I had, sort of went away and I didn’t actually know what I used to be going to do on the finish of 2016. And so then this race occurred and altered my life and right here we’re, eight years later.”

A query that was straightforward for Rossi to reply?

Which was his favourite a part of the celebration: Kissing the bricks, or consuming the milk?

“Positively the bricks, the milk is sort of gross,” laughed Rossi. “I’m gonna be sincere. Like, I get that it’s custom, however you simply did three-and-a-half hours in 90 diploma warmth and humidity, and the very last thing you need is milk.

“Nevertheless it’s iconic, proper?”

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The mystique of Indianapolis

As famous above, the Indianapolis 500 is an iconic occasion on the annual sports activities calendar. It’s a type of occasions the place a single phrase can be utilized to spark the creativeness. Akin to Monaco or Daytona within the motorsports world, merely saying “Indianapolis” conjures up photos of Al Unser, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, and the legends who’ve received at Indianapolis.

I requested Rossi what makes the Indianapolis 500 so particular.

“That is the 108th operating of the Indy 500. You recognize, what was this yr’s Tremendous Bowl? 54? 55? One thing like that?

“That is, that is double what the Tremendous Bowl is,” began Rossi. “It’s the biggest non-religious gathering of human beings on Earth. Prefer it’s simply, there’s the individuals that you simply meet right here which are followers, they’ve been sitting in these seats for generations.

“And it’s simply part of the material of the Midwest. It’s part of not solely U.S. motor sports activities historical past however U.S. historical past typically. It’s simply, it’s a type of flagship occasions which are onerous to come back by and, due to that, there’s simply loads of mystique about it, and it’s simply actually particular to be part of.”

Rossi then talked about his personal expertise rising up and having F1 desires, however nonetheless figuring out every thing there may be to know concerning the Indianapolis 500.

“So for me rising up, my trajectory and targets and desires have been to race in Components One, however you continue to knew concerning the Indy 500. You knew every thing about who was racing in it and who was profitable and every thing and it’s simply, it’s a type of occasions, proper?

“Whether or not you’re concerned in motor sports activities or not, you understand of the Andrettis and the Unsers and the Foyts. And for me to have the ability to be part of it now for eight years is de facto particular and I take pleasure in each second of it.”

The 2024 Indianapolis 500

The dialog then returned to this yr’s installment, and Rossi’s expectations going into the 2024 Indianapolis 500. We first talked about Kyle Larson, because the NASCAR Cup Champion is making an attempt to “do the double,” which is to drive within the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday afternoon, after which make the journey to Charlotte to race within the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night time.

Doing the double is likely one of the extra distinctive challenges in motorsport, and Larson is trying to turn out to be simply the fifth driver to drag it off, becoming a member of John Andretti, Robby Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Kurt Busch. Solely Stewart, in 2001, managed to complete each.

I requested Rossi about Larson, who additionally superior to the Prime 12 in qualifying and can begin alongside Rossi on the second row.

“Effectively, Kyle has been unbelievable,” began Rossi.

“You recognize, we grew up racing collectively in Northern California. I’ve recognized him for 20 years now, and his success up to now this month didn’t come as a shock to me in any way,” continued Rossi. “You recognize, you take a look at his pedigree and what he’s achieved and there was no motive to doubt him, [or to think] he wouldn’t be to win this race.

“He has picked it up actually shortly, and it’s simply been concerning the nuance stuff for him that he hasn’t skilled earlier than in an IndyCar race — pit stops and out and in laps and that type of factor. However, you understand, he’s been nice. It’s nice for us to be part of him making an attempt to do the double, to have Hendrick Motorsports concerned is clearly a giant win for us as nicely. So it’s been a very cool expertise and an honor to work with him, and [I’m] trying ahead to placing on an excellent present with him right here in a few days.”

Following qualifying on Sunday, the drivers took to the monitor on Monday for a type of lengthy observe periods forward of the Indianapolis 500. I requested Rossi how that session went for him, and whether or not he feels the automobile is in an excellent window.

“Yeah. Actually good. I imply, we’ve had a fairly clean month. The automobile that we’re on proper now could be very near the automobile that we rolled off with over every week in the past. So, it’s been very clean from that standpoint,” mentioned Rossi. “The arrogance inside the entire group could be very excessive and, you understand, now we have an excellent shot and that’s actually as a driver, all you may ask for. This race is the toughest one to win for lots of causes. However, you simply admire the times the place, you understand, you’ve gotten an opportunity.

“You recognize, typically you present as much as this occasion and you understand, that for causes X Y and Z, you’re simply not in a race successful automobile. And that’s sort of onerous since you don’t know, you by no means know, what number of alternatives you’re gonna have with a automobile that may win it.

“However this yr is actually one for us.”

Rossi and the remainder of the grid will get another day of observe, on Friday’s Carb Day. (For these questioning, the identify “Carb Day” comes from a bygone period of the Indianapolis 500, referring to the ultimate day the groups would tune the carburetors on their gasoline-powered vehicles. Carburetors haven’t been used for many years, however for an occasion full of mystique and historical past, the identify stays). I requested the motive force what he hoped to see on Friday.

As few laps as vital was the reply.

“Yeah, Friday is a really troublesome session, as a result of this would be the largest hole that there’s been from vehicles being on monitor to vehicles not being on monitor. And so loads of the reads and emotions that you simply get on Carb Day are sort of poor,” began Rossi. “So it’s very onerous to not overreact to what you’ve gotten on Carb Day. I’ve had loads of Carb Days the place I’m actually sad and I simply determine ‘[d]on’t contact something. The automobile’s been good all month, it’ll be superb on Sunday.’ And certain sufficient it’s.

“So, the massive factor for us on Friday is our race engine goes in. The automobile has been fully torn aside to, to sort of analyze every thing and crack take a look at every thing. So it’s actually only a shakedown for the automobile [to] break within the new engine and simply be sure all of the processes are working as they need to.

And then you definately try to decrease the laps as a result of each time you’re on the market, it’s a threat and also you don’t clearly wish to harm the race automobile.”

So now we have arrived on the large query. Beginning fourth on Sunday, behind the Penske trio of Scott McLaughlin, Will Energy, and Josef Newgarden, can Rossi win his second Indianapolis 500?

He believes he and Arrow McLaren have a shot.

“I feel we are able to,” began Rossi.

“You recognize, it’s the perfect automobile that I’ve had right here since 2019 once I completed second. The staff is executing and working at a very excessive stage.

“Clearly, as I mentioned, eight of the highest ten vehicles are Chevy powered. So now we have each software at our disposal. Finally, it’s gonna come all the way down to some variables and probably some issues out of our management.

“However now we have each risk to win this factor and that’s all we’re centered on.”

If Rossi does win, regulate the milk a part of the celebration.

I heard that’s the very last thing you need.