PORTLAND, Ore. – The final two races on the 2022 IndyCar schedule will be bittersweet for Alexander Rossi.
After seven seasons together, Rossi and Andretti Autosport part ways.
Since 2016, the former F1 driver has called the blue and yellow NAPA Honda home. But in 2023, he will be driving a papaya orange and light blue car for Arrow McLaren SP.
Perhaps the movement was behind schedule. Until he won the GMR Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Speedway, Rossi was stuck on a massive 49-race winless streak. Before that, his last victory was at Road America in the summer of 2019.
Still, Rossi came close a couple of times. And he will certainly want to end his tenure with Andretti on a high note before moving on to the McLaren team, which he is rapidly wearing out.
Like other drivers, Rossi takes things day by day and race by race. But he admitted there will be a lingering bittersweet feeling about him this weekend at Portland and at next weekend’s season finale at Laguna Seca.
“There are people, relationships and friendships that I will miss,” Rossi said. “But we’re going our separate ways and this is a change that I knew was coming for a while.”
When asked what his favorite memory with Andretti was, Rossi’s answer was obvious: Winning the 100th race of the Indianapolis 500 as a rookie in 2016.
In addition to his phenomenal victory at Indy, Rossi reaffirmed that some of his best memories at Andretti come from the relationships he built with the team.
“Those special relationships that I have made are something that I will keep with me forever,” Rossi said.
During his tenure with Andretti, Rossi also gave advice to his up-and-coming teammates, in particular Colton Herta. Ironically, Herta could well be the first American driver since Rossi to compete in Formula One soon.
“I got a lot of advice from him going into IndyCar,” Herta said of Rossi. “The biggest thing is [Indianapolis Motor] Speedway. There is a lot to know about it. Early in my IndyCar career, (Rossi) and Ryan Hunter-Reay really helped me.
“Go to the Speedway and have these questions. Even on a general weekend, having questions. They’ve been on the show so long that they’ve been through all the situations I’ve been through, so that helps.”
Perhaps Rossi couldn’t say goodbye to Andretti better than by winning one of the last two races of the season. The stats would certainly be on his side this weekend in Portland.
In three starts at Portland, Rossi has two podium finishes, including finishing second in last year’s race.
“We’ve been in a position to win this race a couple of times,” said Rossi. “We have always qualified well and the car has been good. The test we took last week was positive. We have to start at the front, but if we do, I think we have a chance.”