USA: Alexander Rossi Indianapolis qualifying notes

Alexander Rossi qualifies well at the Brickyard for FBMWUSA rounds 5 & 6 Indianapolis, IN -- "To be one of the few who can say that I've driven at Indy -- that's pretty special." So spoke Alexander Rossi after his first experience of the ...

Alexander Rossi qualifies well at the Brickyard for FBMWUSA rounds 5 & 6

Indianapolis, IN -- "To be one of the few who can say that I've driven at Indy -- that's pretty special." So spoke Alexander Rossi after his first experience of the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, during the Formula BMWUSA morning warm-up. By the evening, Rossi was proving to be pretty special too, having set some very competitive times in the afternoon qualifying session for rounds 5 and 6 of the championship.

With it's high banked final turn and long, long start-finish straight, the Indianapolis GP track favors those who are lucky enough to catch a tow down that half-a-mile-plus front stretch -- the ensuing aerodynamic draft offering higher top speeds and thus lower lap times.

"The draft is so big!" said Rossi, "your RMP increases by 600 and everything goes silent -- you can't hear the motor, just air -- but when you pull out it's like being slapped in the face from the turbulence."

Mid-way through the session the 15-year-old Californian put together a brilliant time that was good for second on the grid and try as they might, no-one could beat it. Alexander remained P2 for the latter half of the session and was sitting pretty until the final lap when a couple of drivers found that Indianapolis favor in the form of a draft across the line.

"I set my time alone, but everyone started to get a tow-partner and ran some times a little bit quicker and knocked me down to fifth." noted Rossi after the session. To illustrate just how vital a tow can be, positions three through five were separated by just 48 thousandths of a second, while the drivers second-best lap times would be used to establish the order for round six, and these saw P3 through separated by less than 1/100, Rossi once again fifth.

Despite the minor disappointment, Rossi remained ebullient for the races, summing up that, "The draft means it'll be impossible for the leader to break away, so I intend to get through turn one and go racing from there."