Fernando Alonso: "Indy 500 high priority again"
- Published on 19 Jun 2018 10:33
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- By: Rob Veenstra
Fernando Alonso says tackling the Indy 500 yet again is now a "high priority". When the Spaniard announced he was going to contest last year's fabled US-based oval race, he said he was really targeting the unofficial 'triple crown'.
Comprised of the Monaco GP, Le Mans and the Indy 500, only Graham Hill has actually won it. But Alonso took another step last weekend by winning Le Mans with Toyota. Juan Pablo Montoya is the other driver with two of the three crowns, as he has won the Indy 500.
So when asked what his next goal is, Alonso said after winning at Le Mans: "I will think about what I will do next summer after this summer. But after winning here, Indy comes back into play with high priority," he is quoted by APA news agency.
The 36-year-old, linked with a full-time McLaren effort in the Indycar series for 2019, admits that his future in formula one is therefore in doubt. "We'll see if it happens next year and what the future of formula one looks like," Alonso said. (GMM)
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Replies (11)
Login to replyLightIsRight
Posts: 113
Calle.itw, what were you saying? Like I said, give up on Alonso in F1. The man is on a mission. Screw doing just the triple crown, world champion in each would be the next logical step after triple crown.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I was only really saying anything is possible. I honestly thought he'd be out, but stranger things has happened. But as I've said before: the Triple crown is referring to being champion in F1, Le Mans and Indy. Thats what he is chasing by leaving F1.
LightIsRight
Posts: 113
Triple crown is three races. Monaco, Le Mans and Indy 500. Not being champion in each. But I can see him wanting to be champion in each. I would do the same.
Watching him go through traffic at Le Mans was mesmerising! The man is a driving genius.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Regardless, it seems like he is out. He is stuck at McLaren, a team that wont win races for another while, and at this rate Im sure he is looking for something else. He doesnt even seem all that happy in F1 anymore, winning aside.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
As for the triple crown: I stand corrected. I had somehow gotten that it was three champion titles, not just the separate race wins. I guess I took the context wrong. :)
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
The problem with Indy 500 is that he won't win just by showing up, as was the case with Le Mans.
Regardless, I don't think he's long for F1, McLaren/Renault was his only realistic shot, had they been close to Red Bull performance wise. But it's painfully obvious that it'll take years (at best) for McLaren to be a player again.
Rindtchamp
Posts: 304
Win by showing up? lol.. I guess you utterly missed the awesome night stint he drove when he was consistently 2-3 seconds a lap faster than the 7 car? He started over 2 mins down.. drove a triple stint and by the end was under 44 secs down. ..just turned up and won.. yeah right.
Bhurt
Posts: 320
The car the team wanted to win, won. They had no competition. What an achievement!
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
It sure was nice to see Alonso on the top step again. Well deserved. Bravo Fernando! Looks like he is headed for a WEC championship as well. It's weird how the WEC season has two Le Mans 24 hour races, but it would be something to see him win it back to back. He did a stellar job last weekend and didn't put a foot wrong.
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
whatever works for you man!
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
The drive at Le Mans was brilliant and a delight to watch. Nakajima too. Buemi... not so much. I'd say they won in spite of Buemi. Alonso to do Indy 500? I wouldn't expect any less. That's unfinished business. He had a real chance in 2017. Full season at Indy? hmm... I hope not. While it's very sad that he doesn't have a winning car in F1, it has also meant that he's chosen to try out other categories and he has been spectacular both at Indy and in WEC.