American Formula 1 driver Alexander Rossi is set to drive the first practice session in next month’s Austin (TX) Grand Prix, bringing an American back to the race weekend 6 years after Scott Speed.
In what appears to be a “charm action”, Caterham decided that its reserve driver, Alexander Rossi (22 y/o), which has been with the British team for the past 2 years and also races at the GP2 championship, will drive the first practice session in the Formula One race weekend that is scheduled for Nov. 15 through 17 in Austin, Texas. Back in 2007, Scott Speed was the last driver to be at a race in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, being that Mario Andretti was the last American to become World Champion, the year was 1978.
Rossi was already expected to have driven in last year’s US GP weekend, but those plans were cut off to give the team’s full-time drivers more time to learn the 3.4-mile circuit. After that Rossi already participated in two free practice weekends, in other circuits, for Caterham.
A few facts about Alexander Rossi:
- Born on September 25th, 1991 (22 years old) in Nevada City, California, United States of America
- Only American Formula 1 driver, currently with the Oxfordshire (United Kingdom) based team Caterham.
- Has been competing in 2013 for the Caterham’s GP2 team, EQ8 Caterham Racing, achieving 2 podiums.
- Rossi partakes in the Formula 1 team’s Friday Free Practice sessions, and Young Driver Test.
- Alexander participated in 171 Formula car starts achieving 38 wins, 67 podiums and 34 pole-positions. His current winning percentage is at 22.22%
Alexander Rossi Car Racing History:
- 2013 Caterham F1 Team Official Reserve Driver
- 2013 Caterham Racing GP2 Championship Driver
- 2012 Caterham F1 Team Official Test Driver
- 2012 World Series by Renualt finishing 11th Overall
- 2011 World Series by Renault finishing 3rd Overall and winning Rookie Championship
- 2011 AirAsia Team Lotus Driver Development Program
- 2011 FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy
- 2010 ART Grand Prix GP3 finishing 4th Overall in the Championship
- 2009 BMW Sauber F1 Testing – F1 Superlicense Qualifications
- 2009 GP2 Asia / Meritus Racing and Ocean Racing finishing 9th Overall with 3 Top 5 Finishes
- 2009 International Formula Master Championship / ISR Racing finishing 4th Overall and winning Rookie Championship
- 2008 Formula BMW World Champion – Winner
- 2008 Formula BMW Americas 1st Champion achieving 10 wins
- 2007 Formula BMW Americas ending 3rd Overall with 3 wins
- 2006 Skip Barber National Series ending 3rd Overall with 4 wins
- 2006 Skip Barber Western Regional Series – 1st Champion
