Rossi delivered his first podium since Portland last year after charging up from 11th on the grid and running a brave three-stop strategy. After climbing to sixth in the opening laps, he made his first stop as early as lap four in order to ditch the alternate-compound tyres, so he could spend the remainder of the race on blacks.
The strategy worked well, because he was back up to fourth after he pitted with the two-stoppers from lap 24. He then passed the Chip Ganassi Racing duo Alex Palou and Scott Dixon, who were running the alternate compound for their middle stint, on laps 39 and 43 respectively, before pitting for the final time on lap 46, while 19.4s behind Power.
