Andretti Autosport hires Alexander Rossi to drive No. 98 car

Alexander Rossi is joining the IndyCar Series after leaving Formula One.

Michael Andretti announced Tuesday that the 24-year-old American would drive the No. 98 car for Andretti Autosport.

Rossi plans to take a rookie test March 1 at Sebring and hopes to be one of four Andretti cars to start the season opener March 13 at St. Petersburg. Rossi has never driven an IndyCar.

But after losing his ride in Europe, the recent merger between Bryan Herta Autosport and Andretti's team opened up a spot in IndyCar. Andretti wasted no time in taking a chance on a promising young driver who won 42 races and finished on the podium 75 times in in 209 career starts in various Formula series.

Herta will be Rossi's race strategist.