Curt Cavin

IndyStar

California driver Alexander Rossi found himself in the crosshairs of some IndyCar fans Wednesday after being named a Formula One reserve driver.

But don’t blame Rossi. If blame is necessary – and it’s not – focus that on the men who hired him for the IndyCar job.

Rossi is 24 years old and has been working toward an F-1 gig at least since 2008 when he moved to Europe. He has worked his way up the grand prix ladder, finally reaching F-1 last year for five races. Rossi, who showed well at Manor Racing, would have been on this year’s grid had a pair of newcomers not come along with checks large enough to uproot him at Manor.

Unemployed, Rossi did what anyone would do: He went searching for a job, and an offer came from Bryan Herta, who was merging his IndyCar team with Andretti Autosport. Rossi agreed to drive the No. 98 Honda-powered entry under specific terms, the details of which haven’t been made public.

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But be sure of this much: Herta and Michael Andretti wouldn’t have agreed to Rossi re-joining Manor if it wasn’t in the agreement to begin with. Wednesday’s news surely came as no surprise to them.

Where does this leave IndyCar, its fans and one of its best teams? In the same place as before. Rossi is a teammate to Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti and Carlos Munoz and short of a new development, he will be in the car Friday when IndyCar’s first practice of the season begins. He will race Sunday in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, one of four rookies on IndyCar’s grid.

Rossi’s commitment to Manor is for 11 races, none of which are in conflict with IndyCar’s 16-race schedule. Should one of Manor's drivers be unable to race on one of those weekends, Rossi will strap in. For the record, any IndyCar driver can race any other car this season if his employer permits. Clearly, Rossi’s didn’t object.

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If Rossi is offered the chance to drive an F-1 car on an IndyCar weekend? Well, surely there is a provision for that, and since it’s hypothetical at this point, it’s none of our business. Be sure, too, that if Will Power, Josef Newgarden or Max Chilton get the same offer, they’re free to consider it as well.

This is America, the land of opportunity. Rossi also is an American, and he’s taking the opportunity presented to him, the opportunity he has been chasing for years.

Don't begrudge. Wish him well.