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The president of IndyCar, Mark Miles, has hopes that Fernando Alonso will race full-time in the series in 2019. This comes after Alonso has tested the #29 Andretti Autosport IndyCar on Wednesday at the Barber Motorsports Park. This was his first time driving an IndyCar on a road course, and has been used to help Alonso decide on whether he wants to join the series full-time next season.
Alonso is considering the move after setting his sights on winning what is known as the 'triple crown' of motorsport, which includes the Monaco Grand Prix, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indianapolis 500, the latter being the only event he has yet to win. Alonso gave the Indy 500 a shot in 2017, during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, but retired when he was in the lead group due to an engine failure.
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"I know it's [Alonso's potential entry] something that all the interested parties are working together on. I'm hopeful that he'll be able to join the series full-time next year," Miles said.
"There isn't a deadline that I know of that's concrete. Even tomorrow I guess people know that he's going to be in an IndyCar getting comfortable with it on a road course at Barber. So we sure hope it happens. We're trying to be helpful to that. If it happens, I think it will be another affirming step for IndyCar in its trajectory and growth."
Also, the chairman of the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), said that it would be 'terrific' for IndyCar to feature Alonso as a driver.
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Replies (3)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
If I were Alonso, I'd spend 2019 as a sorta research year: screen various series to find one that is suitable for him. There are so much more to choose from than just Indy and Le Mans.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Are are there any prestigious ones outside of those? I don't mean quality of drivers and racing, but I think the general feeling is that anything outside of F1, Indy, WEC, and WRC, is second tier.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Not really, but lets face it: he is leaving the top tier, so from there it'll only be less prestigious series. I'd say F1 is top tier, followed by WEC, WRC and Indycar, followed by Nascar, DTM, Blancpain, Super GT, followed by Formula E, Super Formula, and F2. IMO, at least. But a series having more prestige isnt all there is to it, and if I were Alonso, I'd probably aim more for fun than for prestige. He is already an F1 double champion, there is no beating that.