This iconic System 1 star determined to skip a Grand Prix in favour of racing within the Indianapolis 500.
Fernando Alonso skipped the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix to race within the Indy 500 (Picture: Getty)
Fernando Alonso shocked System 1 in 2017 when he bypassed the Monaco Grand Prix for a crack on the Indianapolis 500. The legendary Spanish driver would go on to enter the race on three events.
The Indy 500 is likely one of the oldest motorsports occasions on this planet and the 2026 version will happen on Sunday. First held in 1911, it pits 33 drivers towards each other over a gruelling 500 miles, or 200 laps of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The occasion is one-third of the unofficial triple crown of motorsport, accomplished when a driver wins the Indy 500, the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 9 years in the past, Alonso, then on the struggling McLaren, opted to bypass an F1 race to pursue this feat.
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Alonso grew to become an F1 world champion for the primary time in 2005 with Renault and defended his title in 2006. He then joined McLaren in 2007 and partnered with rookie Lewis Hamilton, leaving after only one 12 months.
Having spent years with Ferrari, he returned to McLaren in 2015, however the workforce’s automobile was uncompetitive so he sought new alternatives. In 2017, it was introduced that he wouldn’t race at Monaco, an occasion he received in 2006 and 2007, in favour of the Indy 500.
“The Indy 500 is likely one of the most well-known races on the worldwide motorsport calendar, rivalled solely by the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Monaco Grand Prix,” he stated. “It is after all a remorse of mine that I will not have the ability to race at Monaco this 12 months.
“However Monaco would be the solely 2017 Grand Prix I will be lacking and I will be again within the cockpit of the McLaren-Honda MCL32 for the Canadian Grand Prix. I’ve received the Monaco Grand Prix twice, and it is one among my ambitions to win the triple crown which has been achieved by just one driver within the historical past of motorsport: Graham Hill. It is a powerful problem, however I am up for it.”
Alonso has raced in two Indy 500 renewals (Picture: Getty)
Alonso impressed as an Indy 500 rookie, qualifying on the second row in fifth and main for 27 laps. Nonetheless, his Honda engine blew up on lap 179, forcing him to retire. He stated after the race: “It is true that earlier than coming right here a few of the questions have been how one can commerce Monaco for Indy 500. I received two occasions there, I received two world championships. To drive round Monaco for a sixth place, seventh place. To be right here isn’t doable to check with that factor. I did not miss Monaco.”
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The Spaniard left McLaren in 2018, searching for new challenges, and went on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, together with as soon as whereas nonetheless competing in F1. In 2019, he tried to qualify for the Indy 500 for the second time however was bumped. He returned a 12 months later and completed in twenty first, which means his pursuit of the triple crown continues.
Alonso made his F1 comeback in 2021 with Alpine and at the moment drives for Aston Martin, who he’ll characterize on the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix, which takes place on the identical day as this 12 months’s Indy 500.
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