Alexander Rossi At Racers Night – Petersen Automotive Museum

Racers Night held at the Petersen Automotive Museum has become an annual Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach kick-off dinner and a talk evening stop when the NTT INDYCAR SERIES rolls into town. From left to right on the dais is Marshall Pruett - Racer Magazine, Alex Palou - Chip Ganassi Racing, Alexander Rossi - ECR, & Marcus Ericsson - Andretti Global. Image Credit: KJ Jones via REELS (2026)

Alexander Rossi At Racers Night – Petersen Automotive Museum

Alexander Rossi, the 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner, sat down as part of the Racers Night panel at the Petersen Automotive Museum, offering candid reflections on life in and out of the cockpit. Speaking with host Marshall Pruett of Racer Magazine, alongside fellow competitive drivers Alex Palou and Marcus Ericsson, Rossi touched on everything from pre-race rituals and the unquenchable drive for perfection to the lasting magic of Long Beach and the business realities that keep IndyCar teams rolling.

Racers Night 2026 was sponsored by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and hosted at the most famous car culture environment most anywhere in the world, Petersen Automotive Museum located on the Miracle Mile at the S/E corner of Fairfax Avenue & Wilshire Blvd.. Image Credit: KJ Jones via REELS (2026)

On the lighter side of travel and mindset, Rossi admitted his home base remains in California and shared that his go-to distraction on flights isn’t music or reading but the simple mobile game Two Dots - connecting dots like a very basic Harry Potter puzzle. He praised Pruett’s deep musical knowledge at the level of the impressive Instagram "Track Star" (a popular music trivia/guess-the-song game show series), joking that he and the others simply couldn’t match it. When asked about California vibes ... Alexander turned the question toward Marcus Ericsson with a knowing grin (Marcus, a former teammate, has no large inventory of music knowledge as well).

Rossi described the core of his racing passion as an “amazing addiction.” In a sport where losses far outnumber wins — unless you’re reigning champion Álex Palou - that fire is essential. “It will quickly drain on you” without it, he said. He loves the endless pursuit of perfection that can never quite be caught, demanding skills both inside and outside the car. It pushes him to improve daily as a driver and as a person. That hypercompetitive Type A nature runs deep: whether battling on track or in a charity arcade game, the goal is always to beat everyone else (with one possible exception - his daughter).

Dinner with drivers includes some fun items - Butter Lettuce Salad |Roasted Tri-Tip with Chimichurri | Assorted Cookies and Brownies. Image Credit: KJ Jones via REELS (2026)

The conversation naturally turned to that unforgettable 2016 Indy 500 victory. Rossi emphasized that the magic hasn’t “worn off,” but his connection to the event has evolved profoundly. As a rookie with zero expectations - it was his first Indy 500, first time attending, and only his second oval race - the goal was simply to finish. What unfolded was pure shock: two failed fuel fills dropped him to the back, leading strategist (and team owner) Brian Herta to quip they should just stop pitting. Rossi then drafted behind his California teammates Ryan Hunter-Reay and Townsend Bell, building a massive fuel advantage over a long stint while they took damage. “We really, in a lot of ways, did everything wrong, but it still worked out,” he reflected. It remains a mystery and a true team win.

Years later, Rossi still thinks more about his second and third-place finishes than the victory itself. The win changed his career trajectory from a one-year deal to a full IndyCar career, but dwelling on it risks losing the competitive edge. His love and respect for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing only grows with each return.

Shifting to the Long Beach Grand Prix - the flagship street race celebrating its 51st running - Rossi called it a special pseudo-home event for the Northern California native. Friends and family flock to it, and the energy, knowledgeable fans, and how the cars come alive on the tight circuit make it one of the calendar’s highlights. On a lighter note, he reacted with surprise and humor to news of his own Walk of Fame induction, joking about expecting a statue in the paddock instead of the usual dolphin fountain and quipping that the plaque was likely just a stamped Instagram photo.

As the unofficial kickoff to the rites-of-spring motorsports event in Long Beach approaches, reigning INDYCAR SERIES Champion Alex Palou, Marcus Ericsson and Alexander Rossi - all three INDY500 race winners - headline the sold-out Racers Night evening. Image Credit: KJ Jones via REELS (2026)

Rossi expressed genuine appreciation for Fox’s broadcasting efforts, calling their involvement “nothing short of incredible” and committing an immediate “yes” to any requests. He noted the series is riding a wave of momentum with the sky as the limit. 

On the business side, he highlighted partners like Java House, Heartland, and Splenda as smart case studies in modern sponsorship. Beyond traditional B2B hospitality, they invest in real activation - trackside vans, commercials, showcasing drivers and personalities - to genuinely connect with fans and see immediate returns. It’s a model he believes works when executed with full commitment.

Finally, Rossi spoke warmly about his father, Peter Rossi, who serves as his career manager. An only child, Rossi received full family support when he chased the improbable dream of becoming an American in Formula 1. With zero motorsport background - Peter was a landscape architect - his dad built everything from scratch: go-kart mechanics, Skip Barber funding, European investment programs, and contracts with three F1 teams. “What he has accomplished ... is as impressive or more impressive than what I’ve done,” Rossi said, crediting his father’s relentless relationship-building and the unbreakable trust that comes from family.

Throughout the evening, Rossi came across as grounded, grateful, and still fiercely driven - the same competitor who shocked the racing world in 2016 and continues chasing that next perfect lap.

... notes from The EDJE

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