IndyCar: How will the 2020 Alexander Rossi situation play out?

The key player in the 2020 IndyCar Silly Season is undoubtedly Alexander Rossi. How will his situation play out for him and the rest of the field?

Andretti Autosport’s Alexander Rossi is in a contract season for the third time in his first four seasons competing in IndyCar, and that has created a 2020 Silly Season situation of which he is a major component.

In fact, the 27-year-old Nevada City, California native is the key component of this Silly Season; what happens with him is slated to play a part in everything else that happens across the paddock.

With IndyCar in the midst of a three-week break following the 17-race 2019 season’s 10th race and leading up to a three-week stint of races, Silly Season has officially begun.

As a result, the Rossi 2020 rumors are in full swing, as they should be; he’s the 2018 championship runner-up who sits just seven points out of the lead of the championship standings in second place. Where he ends up next year is kind of a big deal.

When he was asked to comment about his future in IndyCar, however, Rossi offered nothing of substance, which is understandable. Here is what he had to say about the matter, according to RACER.

"“I’m sorry, I just can’t. It’s very, very sensitive.”"

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All we really know at this point is that Andretti Autosport and Honda would both like to retain him, and Rossi’s ties with the latter go far beyond the emblem on his firesuit.

Additionally, Rossi is content driving the #27 NAPA Auto Parts-sponsored Andretti Autosport Honda, as he should be given his position as a perennial championship contender for IndyCar’s top Honda team, and you have to believe that loyalty is at least a factor considering the fact that he has never driven for another IndyCar team. Here is what team owner Michael Andretti had to say about the matter, according to RACER.

"“He (Rossi) wants to be here and we certainly want to keep him. I’ve just got to find the money.”"

However, we also know that Team Penske are interested in him, although the likelihood of this taking place hinges on whether or not they go back to being a four-car team since none of their three active drivers are on the hot seat.

Additionally, it hinges on whether or not Team Penske can lure him away from Honda. The pockets of team owner Roger Penske are deep, but Honda’s pockets are deeper. Sure, Rossi did drive for the Captain in two IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races earlier this year, but the Captain’s team is aligned with Acura in this series. Acura is the American luxury vehicle marque of none other than Honda.

When he was asked about the possibility of driving for Team Penske, here is what Rossi stated.

"“It’s in God’s hands.”"

At the end of this Silly Season, I don’t think we’ll see any changes in terms of where Rossi is driving.

Andretti Autosport, coming off their first season with a legitimate championship contender since 2012, have no reason to leave the engine manufacturer with which they have won three of the last six Indianapolis 500 races, including three in a four-year span.

We heard the same thing two years ago about Andretti Autosport being rumored to switch to Chevrolet, but they stuck with Honda. It’s almost like switch rumors are guaranteed in contract seasons, with or without substance to back them up.

Assuming they do stick with Honda, that would appear to be more than half the battle in terms of retaining Rossi.

While adding Rossi to an already stacked driver lineup likely wouldn’t hurt Team Penske and Penske could certainly afford it even if Andretti Autosport stick with Honda, team president Tim Cindric has been against the idea of reverting to a four-car team, especially since they downsized to a three-car team not even two years ago. That stance in itself is room for concern when it comes to the dynamic within the team.

“Congratulations, Alexander, and welcome to Team Penske. I’d have preferred if we stuck with our three drivers, but…”

Granted, no one is actually going to say this. But unless Cindric’s stance is a complete bluff, which would make no sense since Andretti Autosport still need to decide on their engine manufacturer for beyond the 2019 season, you get the idea.

Additionally, Rossi is in a great position as it is. As stated, he is a perennial championship contender, and his performances in the Indy 500 have been insane.

In four career starts in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”, he has recorded one victory, a major fuel-saving upset in 2016, and an average finishing position of 3.50 with just two finishes outside of the top two and one finish outside of the top four.

He lost out in the 103rd running of the race earlier this year in late May to Team Penske’s Simon Pagenaud in a 50/50 battle among the two drivers that featured a total of six lead changes in the race’s final 14 green flag laps.

Pagenaud prevailed by just 0.2086 seconds, marking the seventh closest finish in Indy 500 history. If not for the late five-car wreck that brought out the race’s final caution flag periods, the 35-year-old Frenchman would have needed to pit for fuel, and Rossi would have won.

Why try to fix what isn’t broken?

If Rossi does stick with Andretti Autosport, their lineup will likely consist of Zach Veach, Rossi, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti (Andretti Herta Autosport) as the drivers of the #26 Honda, the #27 Honda, the #28 Honda and the #98 Honda, just like it does this season.

Additionally, Josef Newgarden would be set to return as the driver of the #2 Team Penske Chevrolet for the fourth consecutive season while Will Power would be set to return to the team for his 11th consecutive full season driving the #12 Chevrolet. Pagenaud would be set to enter his sixth consecutive season driving the #22 Chevrolet for the team.

Harding Steinbrenner Racing rookie Colton Herta, unless he and Veach swap seats through the team’s technical alliance with Andretti Autosport — and there is only a very slim chance of this given Veach’s three-year contract with Andretti Autosport — will likely remain the driver of the #88 Honda; he is the top replacement candidate for Rossi if Rossi leaves.

Any drivers changes throughout the rest of the paddock, of which not many are expected given the stability at the sport’s other four Honda teams (Chip Ganassi Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and Dale Coyne Racing) would have nothing to do with Rossi if this situation plays out like this.

Anything more or less than this scenario, however, could turn 2020 Silly Season into absolute mayhem.

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When the 2020 IndyCar season rolls around, where will Alexander Rossi be driving? Will he be behind the wheel of the #27 Andretti Autosport Honda, a Team Penske Chevrolet or a Honda-powered car with one of the sport’s four current full-time two-car Honda teams?