Earlier this year Fernando Alonso was offered to drive the third Porsche 919 Hybrid at the Le Mans 24 hours. McLaren had refused Fernando the shot at doing this, so instead Nico Hulkenberg was given the chance and ultimately paid Porsche back with victory at the Le Sarthe circuit. Recently Fernando made comments on social media saying that the Indy 500 looks like a very attractive event for any driver to go to and this begs the question: is Fernando Alonso eyeing Motorsport’s triple crown?
To achieve the triple crown, one has to win the Monaco Grand Prix, Le Mans 24 hours and the Indy 500. The only man to achieve this is the legendary Graham Hill. Juan Pablo Montoya is the closest current driver to achieving this target, winning the Indy 500 in 2000 and 2015, as well as the Monaco Grand Prix in 2003.
In the more recent past drivers have not often been known for crossing over in their respective disciplines, but over the past few years more and more drivers have tried out different racing series.
Nico Hulkenberg recently won the Le Mans 24hr event, Sebastian Loeb has made the transition to track racing in the WTCC, while Mattias Ekstrom from DTM and Andrew Jordan from BTCC have been trying out rallycross. Juan Pablo Montoya over his career has gone from IndyCar, Formula One, NASCAR and back to IndyCar. Now, he is currently leading the points standings.
Is it easier now than ever to translate between series with so much simulator and telemetry data available to the drivers? Possibly, but if these drivers were to be successful in other series as Montoya was switching from IndyCar to Formula One or Nico Hulkenberg driving at Le Mans, does it prove that certain drivers are more gifted and ready to take on any racing discipline and succeed?
Fernando Alonso is certainly one of the best drivers of his generation and arguably still the most well-rounded racer in Formula One currently despite the woeful times he is having with McLaren. His contract with McLaren does not run out until 2017. If Alonso is unhappy with the McLaren-Honda project in 2016, could he buy himself out of his final year and pursue that triple crown?
Fernando is very skilled, capable and would be an attractive, valuable driver to any team seeking someone of his skill set. But if he cannot attain that third Formula One drivers’ championship he so desperately craves, could going for the triple crown be a solace for his career?
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