Should The INDEX Name Be Used In SELECT Statement

I am new to SQL, especially use SQL in VC++ 6.0 framework.

I am told that creating INDEX on field(s) could speed up a query.

if I create a INDEX like the following
<code>
CREATE nonclustered INDEX IX_XYZ on TableA.field1
</code>
Should I use the INDEX name IX_XYZ in some way in the following SELECT statement. Or the following SELECT statement will be carried out automatically based on the INDEX IX_XYZ.

<code>
SELECT * FROM TableA WHERE field1 = xxx
</code>