Montoya: 'I'm closer to the Triple Crown than Alonso'

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Former F1 racer and Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya says he's actually closer to securing motorsport's Triple Crown than Fernando Alonso.

The rare performance of winning the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indy 500 and Le Mans has only been achieved by one man in the history of motorsport: Graham Hill.

Alonso has set himself the ambition of joining the legendary British driver, but the two-time F1 world champion still requires two big victories while Montoya just needs to win at Le Mans.

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"He certainly has the ability to achieve it, but it's not easy," Montoya said of Alonso's aspiring plan.

"The truth is that I am closer than him. For me, I don't know about Le Mans. We will have to see what happens with the Le Mans regulations and if there is any chance that Penske can do it in the future.

"I think it would be quite fun to try," added the Colombian who won at Monaco in 2003.

The former Williams and McLaren driver believes he has a lot in common with Alonso, having demonstrated over the course of his career a will to venture out of his comfort zone. Montoya drove competitively in F1, IndyCar, sportcars and even in NASCAR.

"I think we are two drivers who are not afraid to try new things," he said.

"I don't see any other F1 drivers trying to do that. When you're young and in Formula 1, you believe there is nothing beyond that."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.