Fernando Alonso's pursuit of motorsport's holy grail – the Triple Crown – will forever remain unfulfilled as the Spaniard is unlikely to return to the Indy 500, the missing jewel in his wreath.
The coveted Triple Crown, which consists of winning the Monaco Grand Prix, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Indianapolis 500, has only been achieved by one driver in history, the great Graham Hill.
Alonso has checked off two of the three feats, having won the Monaco Grand Prix in 2006 and 2007 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2018 and 2019. However, Indy has eluded him despite three attempts.
“There is a very appealing thing, which is winning the Monaco Grand Prix in Formula 1, winning Le Mans in endurance racing, and winning the Indy 500 in oval racing, which is called the Triple Crown of motor racing,” he explained, speaking at an event hosted by Aston martin partner Cognizant.
“I attempted the Indy 500 three times and didn't succeed,” he said.
“It's the only one missing, but at the moment it's not in my plan. I'm very, very focused on Formula 1 now for the next two or three years. I want to win the third world title.
The two-time F1 world champion's first attempt at the legendary Speedway was in 2017 with Andretti Autosport and yielded an impressive fifth in qualifying. But on race day, an engine failure on lap 179 of 200 while he was in the chase for the win put paid to his remarkable efforts.
Alonso's second visit to the Brickyard, this time with McLaren running his own entry in partnership with Carlin, was marred by a series of mishaps that left him off the 33-car grid.
In 2020, during McLaren's first full partnership with Schmidt Peterson Motorsport, Alonso finished a disappointing 21st in the COVID-19 delayed event.
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Reflecting on these experiences, Alonso hinted that the energy required to take on the Indy 500 again might be too much, especially given his age and current ambitions in Formula 1 with Aston Martin.
“This [F1] is my first and only priority at the moment,” he added.
“After that – because I will be 45, 46 – I think the commitment that it will require to do the Indy 500, the amount of learning that I will have to repeat again, it will be a little bit too much. That's what I think now.
“I cannot say 100 percent, but it will be too much, and as I said other goals in life as well.”
While Alonso seems ready to close the door on the Indy 500, he is not ruling out challenges outside Formula 1. One goal that remains firmly in his sights is victory in the Dakar Rally.
Alonso first answered the grueling off-road event in 2020, finishing 13th in his debut with Toyota. Since returning to Formula 1 in 2021, Alonso has remained focused on his bid for a third championship but has expressed interest in eventually returning to rally raid.
“I think my next biggest challenge will be the Dakar Rally,” said Alonso.
“If I can win Dakar I think it will be hugely rewarding for me personally because I can win in Formula 1, I can win in endurance racing, winning Le Mans and Daytona, and if I can win in rally as well it will mean a “lot for me as a driver.”
With his attention now on Formula 1 and the Dakar Rally, it appears Alonso may never complete the elusive Triple Crown, but his legacy as one of the most versatile and successful drivers in motorsport remains secure.
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