From the Brickyard to the Nursery: Alexander Rossi Balances Fatherhood and Racing
Indianapolis in May is a place of noise, speed, and relentless intensity. But for Alexander Rossi, the 2016 Indianapolis 500 champion, this year’s Month of May comes with a twist: alongside chasing another win at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” he’s just become a father.
“I didn’t have a kid—my wife had a kid,” Rossi quipped with a smile during a Tuesday press conference, as rain washed out most of the day’s track time. The 32-year-old Californian shared the news with typical understatement, revealing that his son Ben was born the Wednesday before the Sonsio Grand Prix. “We didn’t tell anyone because… why would we?” he added.
While most drivers juggle sponsor obligations, simulator work, and on-track testing, Rossi now has diaper duty to factor into his already jam-packed Indy 500 schedule. It’s the kind of life event that could throw even the most seasoned professional off balance—but not Rossi.
Prepared for Parenthood, Primed for Performance
“We had nine months to plan for this,” Rossi explained, a nod to the well-known predictability of a due date. Still, the timing—right in the thick of IndyCar’s busiest and most grueling stretch—posed logistical and emotional challenges. “May isn’t the time you would choose,” he admitted, “but it is what it is.”
Luckily, home isn’t far. The Rossis live just 25 minutes from the track, and with his wife’s mother visiting from Toronto to help, the newly expanded family has found a rhythm. “My priority for 70, 80 percent of the day is here,” Rossi said of his commitment to the team. “And the rest of the time I can give, I give at home.”
His perspective is cool and collected—not surprising from a driver who has always shown mental toughness and clarity under pressure. For Rossi, the Indianapolis 500 is practically its own championship, a race that demands obsession and attention to every detail. The fact that he’s managing fatherhood alongside it only seems to have sharpened his focus.
A New Chapter, But the Same Drive
When asked if becoming a father had changed his mindset heading into the weekend, Rossi didn’t hesitate. “No,” he said plainly. “It hasn’t changed anything.”
That might come as a surprise to those who romanticize the transformative power of parenthood. But for Rossi, it’s less about shifting priorities and more about maintaining professional discipline—being present where it matters most.
And make no mistake, Rossi is showing up. Despite a weather-delayed session on Tuesday, he clocked the seventh-fastest lap of the day. “We validated the car we built in the open test,” he said. “There were some small technical issues we were working through, but the balance was as expected, and the speed seems okay.”
A Baby, a Race, and a Legacy
The baby’s name—Ben—wasn’t picked from a long list of options. In fact, it wasn’t picked from a list at all. “Kelly was convinced we were going to have a girl,” Rossi laughed. “She had like 40 girl names, and we agreed on one. For a boy, we kind of had one… and that was it.”
While the first name may not carry a deep story, the middle name does—it honors Kelly’s late father. It’s a subtle yet powerful reminder of the values that anchor this young family amid the fast-paced world of professional motorsport.
As the month unfolds and the green flag inches closer, Rossi remains steady. His approach is measured, his mindset focused. Whether he’s in the cockpit of the No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet or back home rocking his newborn son to sleep, Alexander Rossi is in control.
In a sport defined by milliseconds and unpredictability, that kind of balance might just be the biggest win of all.
written by Philipp Kraus / Media Credit: Penske Entertainment