HA! I predicted this over a year ago. McLaren pulls the plug an the Indy 500 run after only one attempt. Zak Brown's Indy 500 PR Stunt is over because next year, no one will care if Alonso is driving this time. He'll be just "another driver" and McLaren just another sponsor stuck on a Dallara car. That, and probably it might be a bit embarrassing to be running Honda engines.... http://www.planetf1.com/news/focused-mclaren-rule-out-indy-500-return/
So how come they letting the team be distracted by letting Nando do WEC? It is destined to become a disaster trust me.
Zak Brown is the biggest flim flam man in modern racing history. The entire Indy run was created as a PR stunt for McLaren and to make Alonso happy so he can be in the spotlight again as "the world's greatest driver" when was about to quit McLaren when his contract ran out over Honda's ineptitude. The BS they put out last year that this was the "return of McLaren" to Indy racing was a joke. Renting a car from a US team, slapping a label on a Dallara chassis and painting it Papaya isn't making it "a McLaren". It means they were a SPONSOR to a team (aka Team Andretti). Good. I'm happy more sponsors choose to put their logo on Indy cars. But that doesn't make the car or the team "McLaren". I can't imagine the outrage on Fchat if Ferrari did the same thing and put Kimi in the seat. Now they say they want to concentrate on F1 so they aren't coming back to Indy. So I suppose last year they weren't concentration in F1? And how does this fit with Alonso running around now in other series? Is he no longer "focused" on F1?
(a) When did McLaren do that? I missed it. (b) When did McLaren claim that? (c) Where's it written they weren't? Again, I missed it. (d) Huh? What makes you think he's not?
The Indy run was a PR stunt, it was obvious. But it worked very well, so kudos to Zak Brown for that . About Alonso at WEC, it's only 7 races, so it's not that he will be working a 100% more. And keeping Alonso entertained at the expense of Toyota means less cash to keep him at McLaren.
I am not an Alonso fan, but I am glad to see that he is racing more and that McLaren is permitting him to do so. For years, I have thought that the quickest way for a good driver to stop racing was for him to sign with an F1 team. Back in the day, Clark, Hill, Surtees, Gurney and the rest used to race F1, Indy, sports cars and lesser formulas. It was good for the sport of auto racing. I suspect that it was Jim Clark's death that really triggered the end of that.
Agreed except for the Jimmy/trigger part. Methinks that his passing was just coincidence in close timing to the sport becoming mega sponsorship with the associated mega restrictive contracts which coincidentally (I feel) started with Jimmy's Team Lotus/ Gold Leaf $$$ initiative... 'Loved the colour scheme but knew the implication. T'was the end of "innocence" (including multi-series driving)...
I Completely agree. I get that its hard for a driver to commit to two series at one time - due to scheduling ... but I think Alonso running at Lemans and or doing Indy last year was great. He did Rolex 24 at Daytona - again its great for the sport. and it shows the qualities of an F-1 driver. Back in the day - Clark, Stewart, Hill - they all raced in multiple disciplines of the sport - namely because it paid the bills... where as today - once you make it to F-1 money is pretty much ok so you don't have to go to other series to make $$$ ends meet. Stephan Belloff and Naninni were some of the last who did both series ... I think its great for F1 and other series to have a current F-1 driver running with them.
Where is it writtem that F! is the end all? It's the same in pretty much all pro series when you have a contract with a sponsor. They don't want you getting involved/hurt with other series. back in "the day" it wasn't necesarrily money that made drivers do other races/series; it was the oppurtunity to do more of what one loved to do. It would be the same now except for contracts negating the activity. Alonso this past year has been an exception. I'd be willing to bet it's in his contract/s not so to do but the contractor/s gave release/s.
Umm.... Back in the day- from 1963 - 1973, it was most certainly the ability to earn money. If you think about it, a driver's life expectancy was about 2.3 years in those days. People like Jackie Stewart had to earn as much as he could to help pay for the family in case he was killed. Also coupled with HM's Tax service taking about 85-90% of your pay for taxes ... you worked as much as you could. Sure they liked the driving, but I don't think people risked their life at the top of the sport just for the fun of it. Current driver contracts vary - but hazardous sports are generally not permitted, or some many days are allowed. biking, Skiing, para sailing, diving etc... are usually considered a hazard activity. so if they are sanctioned they have a lot of strings - medical on site etc... even Karting in some contracts are limited. however if a driver wants to exchange pay for freedom of activity that can usually be negotiated as well. Think of it - if you are paid $25M for services - and then go out and break your leg - and cant race... that is not much return on investment. in Stewarts day - if he made $100K a year ( a fortune in those days ) he would have been lucky - that was racing full time in : F-1, series, F-2 & F-3 races, and then odd Sports car endures and even Indy 500. =( both Clark and Hill winning huge $$$ there vs. F1. ) Drivers back then were driving way more days per year than todays coddled group. I say let them race where ever they want.
Oh. Okay. 'Appreciate the edumacation. I don't hold a fantasy view of racing. I understood back when the blue oval patch on (your example) Jackie's uniform meant he didn't have to race any longer. (I know there were others, but I was aware Jackie's situation was different) And that was when this kid had such a view. And I didn't know Lance was making a living in F1. I thought he was there at his father's behest. 'Learn sumpin' new every day.... You took my reply out of context. I was referring to the rest of the sentence; not what rung of the racing ladder upon which F1 rests. There are numerous other lucrative venues. Need I list drivers that have retired quite comfortably without joining the F1 circus?
It was a publicity stunt...and a great one. They had nothing left in F1 to lose except a great driver. Worked well for Indy car racing too, had me watching the 500 for the first time in years. Whether Zak Brown is more than a showman...we will see
I agree - you can make a comfortable living out side of F-1 in racing -but F-1 is where you make serious $$$
It seems like McLaren is putting all it's eggs in the Alonso basket. That's not a long term strategy -- or even a good strategy. Keep this guy happy at all costs seems to be their thinking.
I never thought I would ever say this, but the demise of Ron Dennis is the end of McLaren. when he got there in 1980, McLaren were also runs... they were at the back of the field - they had Marlboro money but that was about it. Teddy Mayer & Tyler Alexander just did not adapt well to the modern F-1. Dennis had the forsight and really brought them back from the brink. While this time with Honda has not been good, I think Dennis could - would have made it work... over time. I do fault him for starting the road car company - and losing sight of F-1. I don't know if McLaren Automotive is profitable... but its a huge drain. An F-1 team can not be run by committee. Ferrari have clearly shown that. for good or bad you need one guy with the ultimate say..... Dr. Zetcher at MB, Marchionne at Ferrari, Diter M at Red Bull, Frank W at Williams.... McLaren has too many cooks in the kitchen to succeed.
Totally agree - they should be chasing more Honda money - and getting young fresh drives - while Honda figure it out... but sadly that aint going to happen.
Zak Brown is no chubby Ron Dennis. In the Amazon documentary, Boullier says it can take as little as 6 months to destroy an F1 team. The destruction comes from a lack of financing. Well, they just THREW AWAY their best sponsor in Honda with the hope that by paying for Renault engines this year and paying for their own drivers they will do better than staying with Honda. I think McLaren is on that cusp this year of a complete breakdown. If the Renault engine doesn't make a huge difference to them, they could be toast. They have to pay Alonso a huge salary and keep their best personnel. As of yet they have no main sponsorship lined up and they are just a few days away from revealing the car. A huge loss of PR for any new sponsor coming on board this year. That being said --- I think they will do better. But they need more than talent now. They need a bit of luck. And in racing, sometimes that's hard to find. And there is one other question. Will Alonso, now that he is splitting his driving up with another series, really stay focused?
