Rossi-Flickr
We can’t make this stuff up folks
Imagine you are an IndyCar series driver. It is your first time ever driving an open wheel car at Indianapolis, and you are driving in front of the first sell-out in the events history. Now imagine your racecar coughing and sputtering on the final lap of the Indy 500, as it runs out of gas. After a long day riding on the fine line between control and crash, your fuel-starved engine suddenly shuts down. Luckily, the car glides across the finish line in first place. Congratulations! You have just won the Holy Grail of American Racing and joined an elite club!
Unbelievable!
That is exactly what happened at the 100th running of the Indy 500 to rookie IndyCar driver, Alexander Rossi. Rossi, a California native, drank the milk and kissed the bricks by beating the odds at Indianapolis, the most famous racing venue in the world. After climbing out of the cockpit, Rossi declared to the world on national television:
“I have no idea how we pulled that off”
Transition pays dividends
Much to the chagrin of some the fastest cars and most talented drivers on Gasoline Alley, the 24-year-old Rossi became the latest of just nine rookies to win the event in its history. After spending many years in Europe pursing a career in F1, where he was a relief driver for Manor Racing, he had only recently returned to the United States to commit full time to the IndyCar schedule for 2016.
Strategy over Speed
The team overcame a lack of speed all day to win the race by fuel strategy. The gamble paid big dividends on the only lap that matters. After the race owner Bryan Herta stated gleefully:
“I can’t overstate how hard it was for Alex to do what I was asking him to do.”
As the race entered its final laps, Herta yelled into the radio for Rossi to slow down and hold back, to conserve fuel in what was the team’s only shot to win. Holding back on speed, when Rossi instinctively wanted to put the pedal to the metal, required discipline and faith.
The gamble paid off. In an interview today with CNN, Rossi expressed his feelings after crossing the finish line in first place:
“the biggest emotion I felt was relief.”
One can imagine the anticipation and uncertainty every member in the #98 team felt as the final few laps unfolded. The thrill of victory showed on the stunned faces of both team and driver.
Hail to the Rook
Rossi is the first rookie to win the race since 2001. His car was clearly not as fast as those in the top five, but lack of speed was overcome with cunning accuracy. The victory appears as luck, but in reality, it was mathematics and solid strategy by Herta that ruled the day. Good fortune did come in the form of a helping hand from friend, Michael Andretti of Andretti Autosport who was generous enough to aid the Rookie financially. It is unlikely Andretti thought Rossi would win.
No one expected Alex to win. Not even Rossi himself could have imagined such a grand finish. Alex had a 66/1 shot at victory in Vegas. Rossi crossed the finish line at 179.784 well under the day’s average speed.
It’s stories like Alex’s that are the most interesting and rewarding part of being a sports fan. Have you ever heard the story about the tortoise and the hare?
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Christopher DuVall is a writer for the Couch Rider Report. Follow him on Facebook.
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