When Fernando Alonso justified Formula 1 as ‘the pinnacle of motorsports’ ahead of 2017 Indy 500 attempt

Fernando Alonso drove for McLaren's F1 team in 2017 as a full-timer. Yet, the Spaniard snubbed the Monaco GP to participate in the Indy 500. The Monaco GP and the Indy 500 take place on the same weekend. Before the 2017 Indy 500 weekend, Alonso sat down with The Drive for an exclusive interview and justified why Formula 1 is the pinnacle of Motorsports.

Alonso was asked during the May 2017 interview, “Do you still consider Formula 1 to be the pinnacle of motorsports?”

"Yes. I think the Indy 500 stands out from the rest because the history behind the race, the names behind it, and it’s a two week event. It’s like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, another two week event. So there are races that have always been there in history, and they will be there forever," Fernando Alonso replied.

"But as a series, as a championship, Formula 1 is the biggest. To have a small version of the Indy 500 or Le Mans every two weeks around the world, that is without equal."

Alonso signed a three-year contract with McLaren in 2015 with no release clause. Honda returned to F1 for the V6 Turbo Hybrid era and joined McLaren as an engine supplier. However, the Honda power unit was underpowered compared to the competitors which led to frustrations building up on Alonso’s end including the “GP2 engine” comments at the 2015 Japanese GP.

The Spaniard wanted to try his hand at the Indy 500 during this era and drove for McLaren Honda Andretti. Fernando Alonso qualified P5 and started in the middle of the second row. Unfortunately, his engine gave up and he finished in P24. Alonso led the third most laps during the 2017 Indy 500 (27 laps).

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“Not Easy”: Fernando Alonso on adapting to IndyCar

Fernando Alonso participated in the rookie orientation tests before the Indy 500 weekend. He was the quickest driver in the rookie tests. On the first day of the time trial tests, Alonso was P7 and was the fifth fastest with an average speed of 231.3 mph during the fast nine shootouts.

Speaking about getting up to speed in the IndyCar, Fernando Alonso said:

“It has been not easy, that is for sure. But it was a quick adaptation for me. The team also helped a lot. We have six drivers with Honda, and a lot of experience on ovals from there, so we share a lot of advice as well. It has not been easy because we went through many different stages—running with a lot of downforce, running in groups, then with less downforce, then you put the boost up for Fast Friday and qualification trim—which is crazy fast—and there is the wind factor and then the tire degradation.”

“It is nearly impossible to repeat two laps in the same driving style and the same feeling. So once you think you learn something it disappears in the next lap. Maybe the wind picked up or something. But I’m surprisingly competitive. I have nothing to complain about.”

Alonso also competed in the 2019 and 2020 Indy 500. He did not qualify for the 2019 race and finished P21 in 2020.