Alexander Rossi is in the last year of his contract with Andretti Autosport, and rumors are beginning to swirl about which IndyCar team he will drive for next season.
The 30-year-old has been in a bit of a slump lately, with his last IndyCar win coming in the middle of the 2019 season, which has added to the rumors about a team change for next year.
Conflicting reports have come out in recent weeks surrounding the exact status of his negotiations, so Rossi spoke on the NBC broadcast during an open test session at Indianapolis on Wednesday to help clarify the situation.
“It’s just part of the sport, and we’re approaching that free agency time period,” said Rossi. “It’s no secret that my contract is up at the end of this year. What we started when we re-signed in 2019 at Mid-Ohio, I don’t think anyone has been happy with that. I think that’s obvious, right? We all had different expectations.
“I love driving for Michael [Andretti] in so many respects. I see this team as an extended family, and know pretty much everyone on a first name basis. There’s a lot of joy that I have driving here, but also at the same time I’m approaching a critical point in my career, turning 30 at the end of last year. There’s only so much runway as a racing driver that you have.
“This next decision is very important, and one that I am weighing very carefully. But nothing has been decided. People love to report that things have been decided, and that’s just the nature of news in motorsports.
“Certainly we’re looking at options and what we can do, whether we’re staying or going. I think Michael is in the same boat. And we’re just trying to make as much of a good run as we can at this point for the rest of the first half of the year to not only build my own stock value, but the team’s as well. Michael needs his cars to be running up front.
“Everyone is benefitting when there is success, so that’s what our focus is right now.”
This season is Rossi’s fifth with Andretti Autosport, and his results have been trending downwards with each year that goes by. He currently sits 18th in the points after the three races have have been run this season.
It seems unlikely that any further news about Rossi’s 2023 season will emerge until after this year’s Indy 500, but his comments give a clear indication that he will be feeling out his options with other teams after this season is over.
