Rosenqvist and Rossi had already swapped locations by way of Flip 1 and Flip 2 with 4 laps to go, however on the penultimate tour they raced wheel-to-wheel once more, this time at Flip 3.
Rosenqvist lunged to the within, the place Rossi pinched him in the direction of the apex. After rounding the nook aspect by aspect, they touched – Rosenqvist’s right-rear to Rossi’s left-front – and Rossi was despatched into the wall.
He then misplaced fourth place to Scott Dixon, who took benefit of his lack of momentum by driving across the exterior of him at Flip 4.
Rossi, who had beforehand gained two spots when Will Energy and Dixon clashed, stated he was “pleased with every thing” however shut down a query concerning the incident together with his team-mate.
“I believe we obtained given these spots, sort of inherited second, after which ended up again the place we began,” Rossi informed NBC. “It was a very good day general, I believe the tempo was good the group did a tremendous job with technique, that was proper. I’m pleased with every thing.”
However when pushed on whether or not it was good racing with Rosenqvist, he replied: “We’ll focus on it internally.”
Rosenqvist stated the conflict was a product of “powerful racing” however admitted he’d relatively not be doing that with a team-mate.
He defined: “I used to be on the within and he squeezed me rather a lot on the primary apex, so I needed to run into him or I’d have clipped the left[-side] wall and on the exit it’s simply you’re racing out of the nook, and I believed it was a good bit forward.
“He performed it arduous on entry and I performed it arduous on exit, so I believe it was honest. We’ll focus on it, it’s by no means enjoyable to do this with team-mates however in case you race arduous, you must race arduous again. So it’s all good.
“It’s at all times powerful on the market in IndyCar, I shouldn’t be ashamed of being elbows out, so I believe it was all honest play. Clearly I don’t wish to race team-mates an excessive amount of, it’s by no means enjoyable, however that’s the best way it’s.”
When requested if he would have a post-race chat with Rossi, he replied: “Yeah, for positive. If it’s one thing he needs to speak about, he was arduous however honest, and I believe I used to be the identical.
“We by no means wish to put one another within the wall or something, sadly we’ve been round one another at each race this yr, however that’s how it’s whenever you’re racing on the entrance with Arrow McLaren.”