ALEXANDER ROSSI – EYES TO REDEMPTION
It’s no secret that 2020 was a tough season for Alexander Rossi and one he would be happy to forget. It’s even less of a secret that the 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner is more focused than ever to make the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season one to remember.
“We were all just honest with each other discussing things that were good and not good and we took 2020 as an opportunity to learn from our mistakes,” said Rossi reflecting on an uncharacteristically winless season. “I think there are so many positives we can take out of 2020 and honestly the end of the year actually went really well for us for the most part, minus St. Pete, which was on me. I think we’re operating at a really high level right now at Andretti and I’m excited to get on track for the season opener at Barber.”
After championship runs in 2018 and 2019 and a particularly tough 2020 season, Rossi has his sights set on his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship in 2021. “We’ve just got to keep it up. It’s one thing to have an event go well, but to win a championship you’ve got to be pretty much perfect for nine months. We’re starting that journey now and I can’t wait. I’m more motivated than you can believe. I have a lot of points to prove.”
Much like 2020, primary sponsorship roles for Rossi’s 2021 effort in the No. 27 Honda will be split by long-time team partners NAPA AUTO PARTS and AutoNation, each showcasing a distinct livery as Rossi vies for his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship.
NAPA AUTO PARTS will be back for their sixth season with Andretti Autosport and Alexander Rossi and will kick off the 2021 season as the primary sponsor for the No. 27 Honda at Barber Motorsports Park. In addition to the season opener, NAPA AUTO PARTS will be featured as the primary sponsor at the first race of the Texas Motor Speedway doubleheader, the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the streets of Toronto, World Wide Technology Raceway, Portland International Raceway and the final two races of the season on the west coast at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and the streets of Long Beach.
AutoNation will celebrate their 25th anniversary and begin their 2021 season on the No. 27 Honda at the second race of the season on the streets of St. Petersburg and will be back at the second race of the Texas Motor Speedway doubleheader. The Drive Pink-inspired livery will kick off the month of May on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, then the doubleheader in Detroit at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park, Road America, and the inaugural NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on the streets of downtown Nashville before closing out their year back at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the road course.
The fight for the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship begins Sunday, April 18 with the Honda Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park live on NBC at 3 p.m. ET.
