A WAVE OF SHOCKING INVASION: “The stupidest thing in the world” – Alexander Rossi publicly demanded that IndyCar immediately change a rule he “hates with a passion,” causing extreme outrage among fans and prompting widespread criticism from authorities!
Alexander Rossi has never been one to mince words, but his latest outburst has ignited one of the most heated debates in IndyCar this season. In a raw, unfiltered interview following last weekend’s race, the 2016 Indianapolis 500 champion went straight for the jugular, calling one of the series’ longest-standing rules “the stupidest thing in the world” and demanding its immediate removal. The comment, delivered with visible frustration, has since exploded across social media, fan forums, and paddock conversations, splitting the IndyCar community and drawing sharp responses from both supporters and high-ranking officials.
The rule in question is the controversial qualifying group format introduced several years ago and further refined in recent seasons. Under the current system, drivers are divided into groups based on championship points standings rather than pure speed or random draw. The fastest cars from each group then advance to the Fast Six shootout, where the pole position and front-row starting spots are ultimately decided. While the format was originally designed to prevent top teams from sandbagging and to create more television-friendly drama, Rossi insists it has done exactly the opposite.
“I hate it with a passion,” Rossi said in the widely circulated interview. “It’s the stupidest thing in the world. You can be the fastest car all weekend—practice, long runs, everything—and then you get put in a group with a bunch of cars that are clearly slower, the track gets dirty, temperatures change, wind picks up, and suddenly you’re fighting just to make it out of the group. That’s not qualifying. That’s surviving. It punishes the people who are actually doing the best job.”
Rossi didn’t stop there. He went on to call the system “fundamentally broken” and urged series leadership to return to a traditional two-day qualifying format—or at the very least a single-group, all-cars-out session like the one used at the Indianapolis 500. “If we’re serious about crowning the best driver and the best team, then let everyone run at the same time, on the same track condition, with the same wind. Anything less is just politics dressed up as entertainment.”
The reaction from fans was swift and polarized. Within minutes of the interview being posted online, #RossiWasRight and #KeepTheGroups began trending side by side. One large fan account with over 80,000 followers wrote: “Rossi just said what 70% of the paddock is thinking but won’t say out loud. The group qualifying is a joke.” Another popular voice replied: “He’s just mad his team isn’t fast enough anymore. Groups make it fair for the smaller teams. Cry more, Alex.”
The backlash wasn’t limited to social media. Several prominent media members and former drivers quickly weighed in, some defending the current format and others quietly agreeing with Rossi’s core complaint. One veteran broadcaster noted that while the groups were intended to level the playing field, they have instead created a lottery-like element that many drivers privately despise. “The irony is that the people who hate it the most are usually the ones who are consistently fast,” the broadcaster said. “They feel robbed when a tiny mistake or a gust of wind costs them a front-row spot.”
IndyCar leadership has so far remained measured in its public response, but sources close to the series say the comments have definitely reached the highest levels. A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, called Rossi’s language “unnecessarily inflammatory” and pointed out that the group format underwent extensive consultation before being implemented. “We’ve heard the feedback, we always do,” the official said. “But changing qualifying again would require broad consensus among teams, promoters, and broadcast partners. It’s not a light switch you can just flip.”
That measured tone only seemed to fuel more frustration among fans who already feel the series has drifted too far from its roots. One long-time attendee posted a viral thread listing every major qualifying change since 2010, ending with the blunt conclusion: “They keep fixing things that weren’t broken, and now they’re shocked when the drivers get angry.”
Rossi himself has not backed down. In a follow-up comment on social media, he doubled down, writing: “I’m not asking for special treatment. I’m asking for fairness. If that makes people uncomfortable, then maybe it’s time to have the conversation we’ve been avoiding for years.”
Interestingly, several current drivers have quietly signaled support without directly naming Rossi. One front-runner was overheard in the paddock saying, “Put me in any group you want—if I’m the fastest, I should be on pole. That’s how it used to be, and that’s how it should be.” Another veteran, who has won poles under both formats, admitted the group system “takes away some of the purity” of qualifying.
Yet the format also has its defenders, particularly among midfield and smaller teams. They argue that the old system allowed big-budget outfits to dominate the front row virtually every weekend, leaving little room for surprise performances. One team owner stated publicly: “We finally have a system where a smaller team can steal a front-row spot if everything lines up. That’s exciting for the sport. Alex is entitled to his opinion, but he’s not entitled to undo progress.”
As the debate continues to rage, all eyes are now on the next major oval race, where qualifying format discussions tend to become even more intense. For Rossi, the outspoken comments represent both a risk and an opportunity. He has placed himself at the center of a growing conversation, but he has also painted a target on his back from those who believe the current system is working as intended.
Whether IndyCar ultimately reconsiders the group qualifying format remains uncertain. What is clear is that Alexander Rossi has reopened a wound that many thought had healed. By calling the rule “the stupidest thing in the world” and demanding immediate change, he has forced the entire paddock—and the fans—to confront an uncomfortable question: Is the current qualifying system truly making the racing better, or is it simply making it different?
