Alexander Rossi Indy 500 Outlook
Despite a poor starting position, Alexander Rossi finds himself as the favorite to win Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. Can the favorite find his way to the checkered flag?
The Indianapolis 500 is a 500-mile race that will be held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race takes place today on Sunday at 11AM ET and will air live on ABC. According to oddsmakers, Alexander Rossi is favored to win this race, as he is listed with 8/1 odds. Other short odds to win are Helio Castroneves (9/1), while four others have 10/1 odds to win.
Rossi a former Indy 500 winner
The 26-year-old driver from California has had just two Indy 500 appearances in his career, but they have been very productive. He actually won in his debut in 2016 after starting from the 11th position. Last year, he defended his title by placing seventh after starting third. This year, Rossi starts from a very unfavorable position of 32nd. While it’s a long race, moving through this field isn’t easy from the back and one can get lost too far behind the leaders quickly.
Strong 2018 season
Rossi is off to a good start to his 2018 season. He finds himself currently in second in the series standings through five races. Of the five races, Rossi has finished in the top 5 in four of them, including one victory and two third-place finishes. It is, by far, his best start to a year yet, as he didn’t crack the top 5 of the series standings the last two seasons.
Indy 500 Outlook
It’s understandable while some would like Rossi from a performance standpoint. He has been strong in 2018 and Indy has been a good track for him. However, his starting position is a big concern for me. No driver has ever won the Indy 500 by starting 29th or worse. The best finish from 32nd was second, and that was back in 1981 and 1957. While he can work his way toward the front, I would cap Rossi’s expectations to a top-5 finish.