Rossi: F1 expansion in the US a boost to IndyCar, but also a threat

IndyCar star Alex Rossi is excited to see F1 expand in America with next week's inaugural Miami Grand Prix but warns that F1's development in the US is also a threat for IndyCar.

This year, the United States will host two rounds of the F1 World Championship but that number will grow to three in 2023, with Las Vegas joining Austin and Miami on the sport's schedule.

Rossi, who raced in F1 in 2015 with the Marussia outfit before he successfully applied his skills to IndyCar, believes that Grand prix racing's expansion in the US is fully justified.

"I'm just excited for Formula 1 and America, honestly," he said ahead of this weekend's IndyCar round at Barber Motorsports Park.

"It's been a long time coming to have multiple races in the States. It's a big country. There's no reason not to have three.

"Obviously starting next year in theory we're going to have three. That's an amazing thing."

The 2016 Indy 500 winner believes that America's booming interest for F1 is positive overall for IndyCar and US motorsport in general as it increases the sport's exposure with the Us audience.

"People are just becoming aware again of motorsports, what it has to offer, how cool it is," he added.

"I think we went through a period of time where the younger generation, they weren't as interested in cars, getting their licenses. I think I was honestly a part of that kind of final phase of really loving cars and such.

"I think now that motorsports is offering more than just cars, it's an entertainment entity, people are being drawn back into it and realizing it's a pretty awesome sport.

"I think all forms of motorsports are on the rise right now. I think it all kind of coincides with each other, which is really exciting to be a part of."

• Video: Fly through the amazing Miami GP campus!

However, the Andretti Autosport driver says Formula 1 must now be considered as a genuine competitor to the NTT IndyCar Series.

"Sure, it is, especially when you look at U.S. market share," he said.

"With three races, it's something we need to be aware of, certainly continue our development and plan in terms of what we're doing with the series, with the driver personalities, the teams, the representation we have out there. I think it's certainly a moving target."

Rossi argues that IndyCar needs to continue build on its race promoters' effort to enhance the spectators' experience by producing creative and comprehensive "events" at venues.

"We look at Long Beach being so popular, look at St. Pete, you look at Indy, it's because it's an event, right?" he said.

"Yeah, the racing is probably the majority of the reason why people are there, but not all of it.

"It's hard to sell someone on devoting three days of their lives, with all the distractions we have in the world now, to just watch cars going around the track, right?

"It's all the other things that are going to keep people captivated for the entire day, want to bring their friends and families out.

"I think Formula 1 has that kind of sex appeal to it. They've done a good job of marketing it, pushing that, displaying that. I think IndyCar to a certain extent needs to work on that, but also we just need to continue to push the product that we do have in creative ways.

"I think what we have is very special, but we just need to be creative and continue to push the envelope in terms of showing that to people."

While racing is the centerpiece of IndyCar's events, creating a buzz around the latter is where IndyCar needs to improve according to Rossi.

"I think we all have to remember we are an entertainment property ultimately," he said.

"That is what we are. That's why we always talk about ‘the show’. That's why we're always interested in improving that with car updates.

"It's talks and conversations we always have. I think IndyCar is aware of that.

"The on-track product is not necessarily the issue, right? It's creating that buzz around it that we lack, that we struggle in."

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter