Alexander Rossi

Age: 26. Hometown: Nevada City, California.

Car: No. 27 Honda. Team: Andretti Autosport.

2018 wins: Three (Long Beach street course, Mid-Ohio road course, Pocono oval).

Career wins: Five. Championships: None.

First season: 2016.

Rossi spent his formative years in Europe intent on making a career in Formula One. He competed in five races in 2015 for Manor Marussia F1 before the team folded at the end of the season, forcing Rossi to look for a new opportunity.

He immediately found it in IndyCar and made a name for himself in his very first season by winning the 2016 Indianapolis 500, but he stepped up to another gear this year.

Along with his three wins, Rossi has earned eight podium finishes — tied for the series lead with Dixon — and claimed three poles. If Rossi wins the title, he would be the fifth different driver to win for Andretti Autosport since 2004.

In Rossi’s two starts at Sonoma, he finished fifth in

2016 and 21st last year after suffering car issues during the race.