IndyCar: Alexander Rossi’s impressive streak ends with crash

By Asher Fair | Oct 26, 2020

Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport, IndyCar - Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Alexander Rossi was positioned to extend his four-year IndyCar winning streak on the streets of St. Petersburg before crashing.

Andretti Autosport’s Alexander Rossi entered the 2020 IndyCar season finale as the only 2019 race winner who had not yet won in the 2020 season.

Team Penske teammates Josef Newgarden, Will Power and Simon Pagenaud had all been victorious in 2020 after winning multiple races in 2019. The same could be said for Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Takuma Sato and Andretti Harding Steinbrenner Autosport’s Colton Herta.

The only other winner in 2020 was first-time winner Felix Rosenqvist of Chip Ganassi Racing.

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Rossi had won at least one race in each of his first four seasons of IndyCar competition entering 2020, and his four-year winning streak was the fifth highest among all drivers entering the year. It was the only streak on the line in the season finale.

But there was hope for the winless driver, as he entered the season finale riding a streak of four consecutive podium finishes.

The driver of the #27 Honda was well-positioned to extend that streak to five straight podium finishes and his winning streak to five years with a season-ending victory on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, a venue where he had previously finished as high as third place and had never finished outside of the top 12.

Rossi started this 100-lap race around the 14-turn, 1.8-mile (2.897-kilometer) temporary street circuit on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida in second place alongside Team Penske’s Will Power. By lap five, Rossi had taken the lead, and he appeared to be untouchable.

In fact, Andretti Autosport appeared to be untouchable, with Colton Herta running in second place and part-time driver James Hinchcliffe, the 2013 winner at the track, running in third.

Rossi led the ensuing 61 laps prior to making his second pit stop. But three laps later, his #27 Honda was in the wall.

He got into the marbles and crashed in turn four.

His winning streak was over, unlike every other 2019 race winner. He still hasn’t won a race since he dominated at Road America in June of last year, more than 16 months ago — and 22 races ago.

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What was an extremely disappointing 2020 season was finished off with arguably the most disappointing moment, save for his race-changing Indy 500 penalty and ensuing wreck. Rossi finished in ninth place in the championship standings, his lowest finish since his 11th place finish in his rookie 2016 season.