Kirkwood to replace Rossi at Andretti Autosport IndyCar team in 2023

Rossi has been with Michael Andretti’s team since he arrived in IndyCar from Formula 1 in 2016, and scored seven wins including the 2016 Indianapolis 500. He finished second in the 2018 championship and third in 2019.

However, for a variety of reasons – misfortune, slow pitstops and some driving errors – the 30-year-old Californian has not won an IndyCar race for almost three years and six podium finishes over the last two seasons have seen him finish only ninth and 10th respectively in the end-of-year standings.

Rossi is expected to join Arrow McLaren SP.

“Alexander has been a great contender for us, and we’ve enjoyed having him as part of the team for seven seasons,” said Andretti.

“He’s won races and become a leader in the team, but all careers and all teams evolve, and we’ve mutually decided it’s time for each of us to move on.

“I have no doubt he’ll have a continued, successful IndyCar career and we wish him the best. In the meantime, we are all working hard to finish the 2022 season strong.” 

Replacing Rossi will be Kirkwood, who last year won the Indy Lights championship with Andretti Autosport, becoming the first driver to have won all three steps of the Road To Indy ladder. He scored 31 wins across his 50 races in USF2000, Indy Pro 2000 and Indy Lights.

Andretti couldn’t find room for him in its 2022 IndyCar line-up, so Kirkwood is spending his rookie season racing for AJ Foyt Racing and has scored a best finish of 10th at Long Beach.

Rossi will depart the Andretti Autosport lineup at season's end, with Kirkwood taking his place

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