Indy 500 is an endurance race. Sometimes the best driver doesn't win.
I think this is a great development and I'm very excited to see how he performs. I wish there was more crossover to provide more perspective between the different formats and series. I think everyone wins. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
True, but Montoya had a good deal of seat time in a car on ovals. Respectfully disagree that it was overrated. Remember the context . . . the lap before on the same corner, Michael chopped across Mika's front wing and put him on the grass at 185 MPH. Michael's wheel actually touched Mika's wing, but Mika was quick enough to avoid the accident. Then on the next lap, Mika kept his foot planted on Eau Rouge to keep his momentum high when he crested the hill. Schuey had lifted slightly through Eau Rouge, and Mika was coming up with good momentum. When Schuey juked left, Mika -- literally in milliseconds -- realized he has a fraction of a second of draft off Zonda, so he ran up Zonda's rear. He then out-braked Michael -- and the track was damp. You claim that anyone could have pulled that off and it wasn't the result of ability. I dare say that only a couple of drivers on the track that day could have pulled it off. And I'd say no more than 5 drivers in F-1 today could pull it off. It was a pass worthy of a world Champ. And don't take my word for it. Schuey called it one of the greatest ever. Exactly. Mika had offers for Indy, but he had a lot to lose. Absolutely. I hope Alonzo wins. When I was talking to my 25 year old son about this today, I worried that Alonzo might wreck. He said . . . "Dad, we both agree that Alonzo is one of the most talented drivers in the world, and he is Fernando Freaking Alonzo. He is going to dominate." I hope my son is right. It would be a major chit for F-1 if Alonzo shines.
While they never even reach 200mph at Monaco there is always a solid wall at Monaco and it is always closer than the wall is at Indy. At Indy they are not having to just miss the inside solid wall every single corner by mm's. If you are down near the inner line at Indy you are about 20 feet away from the outer wall, but yes, very much travelling a lot faster. But I don't think drivers think of it like you say, ie. racing straight at a wall right in front of you. I think at Monaco you would feel like you are racing at straight at a wall more, but sure slower. Pete
This is one of the weirdest thing I have heard lately. It show that, at this point, Alonso has nothing to loose and would try anything. But Indy is difficult to tackle when you are not an oval specialist.
As a competitive person, alonso just wants an opportunity to beat someone. The mclaren is and continues to be crap, so he gets a weekend away from the rubbish to have a proper race - I can totally understand it myself. Forza Fernando, hope he does well, maybe wins!
He said yesterday ''To be the best, I have to either win 8 titles or win the triple crown''. To me that hints he think of Schumacher as the best (no arguments there), and he's realistic enough to think that finding 6 titles in the next couple of years is going to be pretty tough...Years ago (still at Renault) I remember him saying his goal was to win 3 titles. Presumably he's had the idea of ''3 titles and triple crown'' as a pretty solid argument for being the best. Can't disagree there! FFS don't do that stereotypical American thing, getting your panties in a twist when you clearly misunderstand my writing. I'm pretty certain I said that Alonso will get used to it pretty quick, I didn't say you don't need balls to drive at ****ing Indy! And I stand by my point, yes they may do 225mph (F1 also reach 230+ in Mexico and Baku and 225 in Monza), but the track is so wide, that's why I'm saying PERCEPTION of speed. Get in your car now and do 200mph on the autobahn. Then do 150mph on a single lane road lined by trees. What feels faster? Exactly. +1 Again...what is this? Is it my dad vs your dad? My race is tougher than your race? American Football is rougher than rugby? I, and no one else here that I've seen, have said that Indy is for amateurs. You're jumping to your own conclusions.
is that pic(Feranando Alonso???) of said article not Dave Grohl from the famous rock band Foo fighters?
Well, this F1 follower certainly doesn't underestimate the danger of racing on ovals, compared to F1 circuits with their lower speed, run-off areas, gravel traps, etc... On oval, you make just one mistake and you are out; and it's also very easy to get involved in someone else's wreck. Things happen in the blink of an eye. I have been to Indy once, in 1988, when Rick Mears won, and it was for me an eye-opener. I have to admit the very high speed constantly maintained and the close racing impressed me a lot. I think you must need intense concentration and balls of steel to keep cool in these conditions. F1 has just nothing like it. Unlike F1, everybody keeps racing on ovals; there are no blue flags, the back-markers are always in the race and racers un-lapping themselves is not uncommon. Those who like overtaking and changes of positions will be delighted there: there is constant action everywhere on the track, and you can see all of it! Oval racing is racing in its purest form, but it’s also very dangerous, IMO. The show can be monotonous though, but one or 2 ovals on the calendar would make many F1 fans change their opinion about the. Make no mistake, Alonso has a mountain to climb; just adapting to the oval environment will be a tall order. Also, Alonso with no oval experience he proposes to start learning his craft at the crown jewel on the calendar ...
Jenson Button set to replace Fernando Alonso for McLaren at Monaco Grand Prix Jenson Button set to replace Fernando Alonso for McLaren at Monaco Grand Prix - BBC Sport Good for JB!
The difference is that if you spin or crash on an oval (even at the bottom of the turn), you are usually going to end up in the wall.
APRIL 13, 2017 Indy 500 not step away from F1 says Alonso Fernando Alonso insists his decision to skip next month's prestigious Monaco grand prix does not indicate his commitment to F1 is flagging. "No, it (Indy) is a single race," said the Spaniard, after he and McLaren-Honda shocked the racing world on Wednesday by announcing they will contest the Indy 500 next month. The dates of the Indy 500 and Monaco clash, and McLaren executive Zak Brown smiled: "Unfortunately it is not possible to have one driver at two separate events." Others interpret Alonso's move as a clear step away from F1, particularly with his three-year McLaren-Honda contract coming to an end this year. "Will this influence my renewal? No," he is quoted by El Mundo Deportivo. "Nor does it bring me closer to McLaren or away from F1. It's not the feeling I have," said Alonso. Indeed, he said his commitment to F1 remains high, with his target to "prove that I am the best and that I prepared myself better than ever". "I have been ultra-competitive with the level that we currently have in the first two races. This (the Indy 500) is a champions final, a gift, an opportunity and we have to take advantage of it," Alonso explained. "But my main objective is to fight for the third world championship. Without a doubt. F1 is my life and it's what I'm going to continue to do. "All my skills have been developed around F1, and I cannot expect that overnight I will be better than a driver of another category. "I do not have the frustration that maybe you can feel from the outside. I would like to win, of course, but it is not the frustration that maybe someone else would feel," Alonso added.
Quote from the article:- "McLaren executive director Zak Brown says two-time champion Alonso's replacement is "not in place". But there is no other serious option than Button, 37, who is contracted to McLaren as a reserve driver and will race barring unexpected circumstances." Other options:- "But McLaren executive Zak Brown on Wednesday admitted he doesn't know if the 2009 world champion has even driven the 2017 car in McLaren's simulator. And the 37-year-old driver also cheekily played down the speculation, writing "Why do I have so many missed calls?" on his Twitter. Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said McLaren-Honda juniors Lando Norris and Nobuharu Matsu****a might also be in the running. "We have a good idea of who to put in the car, and we will make a decision no later than the end of the month," said Brown. "Possibly earlier. "The conversations are running and we have different options."
Well, Dario Franchitti, who might have an idea or two on the matter, has this to say: (as for myself, I don't have the slightest opinion, I know next-to-nothing about oval racing) The problems Alonso will face at Indy | Motor Sport Magazine Rgds
Dario knows what he's talking about - accurate take. There is definitely a lot more danger than F1. Dario's career was ended prematurely in a crash. Hinchcliffe almost died a little over a year ago. Aleshin had a horrible crash in 2014. Newgarden took a huge hit last year that required some plates and screws in his shoulders. Actually Hinch's crash was in practice at Indy. Alonso probably has the best shot with Andretti, but it's going to be very difficult.
Apart from the fact that the car he'll be driving at Indy is badged a McLaren and has a Honda engine So actually he's still in the 'family'.
