American stars Alexander Rossi and James Hinchcliffe struggle to make an impact in Bathurst

They came with big reputations but American duo Alexander Rossi and James Hinchcliffe left Bathurst with battered egos after they crashed out of Australia’s most famous race.

BATHURST, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 10: Alexander Rossi driver of the #27 NAPA Auto Parts Walkinshaw Andretti United Holden Commodore ZB looks on during practice for the Bathurst 1000, which is part of the Supercars Championship at Mount Panorama on October 10, 2019 in Bathurst, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

• VICTORY: Incredible victory for McLaughlin

• CRASH: Horror smash wipes out podium chances

 North America was hit with a Mount Panorama reality check with two of the biggest racing stars turned into Bathurst battlers.

In a sobering Bathurst 1000 debut for an Indianapolis 500 champion and an Indy Car race winner, Alexander Rossi and James Hinchcliffe crashed out of Australia’s most famous race with 26 laps left to run.

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Rossi crashed out with 26 laps to go. Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images.

With Rossi behind the wheel of the Commodore for the final stint, the Indy Car rookie of the year sent his Holden into the sand in a bitter end to his Bathurst debut.

Brought to Australia as an all-star international wildcard for Walkinshaw Andretti United, both Rossi and Hinchcliffe were consistently two seconds a lap slower than the heavy-hitters at the front of the field.

With Rossi strapping into a Supercar for the first time and Hinchcliffe returning for his second run in a V8, the open wheel specialists went into Australia’s toughest race just hoping to survive.

Rossi couldn’t live up to the hype. Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images.

The pairing were almost three laps down when a safety car with 60 laps left put them back on the lead lap.

Indy Car racing giant Michael Andretti watched on from pit-lane as his two drivers took on Mount Panorama and the likes of Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes.

They managed to survive until the final stint with a minor mistake ending their mountain mission on lap 135.

The incident sparked a safety car scramble that set up a thrilling sprint to the end for the V8 survivors.

Originally published as American stars Alexander Rossi and James Hinchcliffe struggle to make an impact in Bathurst