Beyond the Flag
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IndyCar: Five Bold Predictions for 2017

By Asher Fair

Charlie Kimball on track during the 2016 GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma. Photo Credit: Bret Kelley/Courtesy of IndyCar
Charlie Kimball on track during the 2016 GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma. Photo Credit: Bret Kelley/Courtesy of IndyCar /
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Alexander Rossi
Jun 5, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian driver Alexander Rossi (98) of United States waves goodbye before the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit Race 2 at The Raceway at Belle Isle Park. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2: Alexander Rossi Will Repeat As Indy 500 Champion

It is tough to predict the winner of any given race, especially with so many cars in the field. It is even tougher to predict the winner of the Indianapolis 500 since it features 33 cars, a season-high.

A driver to win back-to-back Indy 500 races in unlikely too. However, the last time there was a back-to-back Indy 500 champion, it was 2002. Helio Castroneves took the checkered flags in both the 2001 running and the 2002 running of the event.

Consequently, Castroneves was a rookie in 2001, much like Rossi in 2016. Castroneves went on to go 2 for 2 in Indy 500 attempts with his win in 2002, which is exactly what Rossi will try to do in 2017.

Related Story: Why Alexander Rossi’s Indy 500 Win Was No Fluke

I have already discussed in the article linked above why Rossi’s 2016 Indy 500 win was no fluke. He pit as many times as the three cars behind him, and he was strong on the time charts in practices and qualifying as well. His win should have been no surprise to anybody (except, of course, the oddsmakers). There is no reason he cannot solidify himself as a true force to reckoned with by winning the Indy 500 once more this season.