4547 replies to this topic

[RA2]

The real loser of this might be F1 in the end, because it will be another proof that F1 is no longer the pinnacle of motor racing.

 

   

[barzini]

Amazing stuff! Show them how it's done!

[Jvr]

Great for Indy 500 to get an active F1 driver in the field.

 

I hope Alonso's example will motivate more F1 drivers to participate in races outside F1.

It is their teams and contracts that do not usually allow them to race in other series simultaneously rather than motivation levels of the drivers.

 

There has been interest to participate e.g. Rallying, Motocross, LeMans but teams do not like the risk of their drivers potentially getting injured in those other series and sponsors do not like seeing their drivers to represent potentially competing brands.

 

But I agree, it is good for motorsport overall and should be encouraged more.

Edited by Jvr, 12 April 2017 - 17:19.

[Marklar]

The real loser of this might be F1 in the end, because it will be another proof that F1 is no longer the pinnacle of motor racing.

I find it astonishing how many people are seriously believing that. It is the opposite. For years F1 was accused to live in a bubble. to not release the drivers out of this bubble like in the good old days. Now finally someone is doing this and suddenly it is bad? Seriously?!

[DS27]

I so wish that this news had been released 11 days ago, it would have been the ultimate April Fools double-bluff.

[Pimpwerx]

I will watch the 500 this year. It's been a long time since I watched Indycar. I was  regular CART viewer until Montoya left the first time. It'll be fun watching Alonso try to tame that oval.

[as65p]

The lack of knowledge and the complete ignorance about all things Indycar displayed in this thread is flabbergasting.

 

I rate Alonso highly, but everyone expecting him to walk the race is in for a really bad surprise. As talented as he might be, he probably will get schooled even by a sub-par driver like Marco Andretti - just because of his experience in oval racing. Not to speak of guys like RHR, Dixon, Kanaan or the Penske boys.

The real loser of this might be F1 in the end, because it will be another proof that F1 is no longer the pinnacle of motor racing.

 

I'm just glad a few people, Alonso foremost, put an exciting adventure above such petty thinking. For me personally, even if he looks totally out of his debt he'll still get all the marks for trying. It's brave and ballsy and silly, so what's not to like?

[Jvr]

Concerning whose idea this was and how it progressed, some more insights:

https://www.motorspo...s-brown-893019/

[Taxi]

Alonso is probabily the driver I least root for in Formula 1.

 

But... I'll be sufering for him like mad at Indy 500. I just hope he wins. He deserves for his awesome talent.

[jonpollak]

Amazing stuff! Show them how it's done!

I'm confidant he has the intelligence to be shown how it's done...

Jp

[saudoso]

@ those worried about Alonso having no prior oval experience: he's not exactly the first rookie to go to Indy 500 to cross over from Europe with little or no prior open wheel oval racing experience:

Just those from the DW12 era: 

 

Rubens Barrichello 2012 - his fifth race in Indycar, first on an oval: decent KVRT equipment, was up to speed but not a factor for the win: qualified 10th finished 11th

Katherine Legge 2012 - plenty of seasons in Champ Car and a few indycar races before the Indy debut, but only her second oval race after 2006 Milwaukee - and that's an entirely different animal to Indianapolis: was racing in pretty crap Dragon car so wasn't really up to speed, qualified 30th finished 22nd 

Simon Pagenaud 2012 - same as Legge, some Champ Car and Indycar races but Indy 500 was his first race on oval: decent Schmidt equipment, qualified 23rd finished 16th

Jean Alesi 2012 - had an anchor called the Lotus engine so not comparable

Kurt Busch 2014 - a NASCAR champion but open wheel cars are a different animal and the Indy 500 was his first open wheel race altogether: had same Andretti equipment as Alonso, was instantly up to speed anyway even though wasn't a factor for the win. Qualified 12th finished 6th

Carlos Huertas 2014 - his fifth Indycar race and the oval debut: raced for Coyne which isn't the best equipment, qualified 21st finished 17th

Mikhail Aleshin 2014 - same as Huertas, fifth indycar race and the oval debut in slightly better Schmidt equipment; the "Mad Russian" was pretty daring from the get-go which impressed quite a few people, qualified 15th finished 21st

Stefano Coletti 2015 - again the oval debut after a few road course Indycar races; never really got the hang of it (although his KVRT ride wasn't the best either), qualified 32nd and crashed out of the race

Alexander Rossi 2016 - people forget it beacuse he's American, but it was his second ever oval race (to my knowledge) after the Phoenix race earlier last year. And Phoenix is as different from Indy as Le Mans is from Monaco. Yet he won. Granted, Rossi wasn't the fastest man on the grid and he won it by strategy - but he was looming there in top 10 all the time in the first place, and it also required a man of Alex's skill to pull off that off sequence strategy. Plus it's essentially the same team as Alonso this year. 

 

Make your own conclusions as to what Fred's chances are! 

[SophieB]

Lando Norris‏Verified account @LandoNorris  7h7 hours ago
So… @McLarenF1. I hear you need a driver for Monaco

 

also: 

 

Autosport‏Verified account @autosport  51m51 minutes ago

More

McLaren doesn't have a replacement for Indy 500-bound Fernando Alonso at the Monaco GP yet #F1 http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/128935/mclaren-no-alonso-replacement-chosen-yet …

 

 

Lando Norris‏Verified account @LandoNorris  48m48 minutes ago

More

Replying to @autosport

 

 

Go for it, McLaren.

[f1paul]

But who's gonna replace him for Monaco? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actually, who cares, ALONSO'S DOING THE 500 and that's all that matters!!! 

[Collombin]

So is this Alonso guy any good? Never really heard of him. Bet he fails his rookie test and gets sent away to get more experience in midgets and sprints.

[Jvr]

So is this Alonso guy any good? Never really heard of him. Bet he fails his rookie test and gets sent away to get more experience in midgets and sprints.

He's got the attitude for NASCAR even though I am not quite sure for his fist fighting skills...

[f1paul]

So is this Alonso guy any good? Never really heard of him. Bet he fails his rookie test and gets sent away to get more experience in midgets and sprints.

He's a footballer...right??? 

[noriaki]

 

True, the risk exists. 

 

Then what? Alonso is a racer and it's racing, risks are racing so I would bet he accepts the risk. Besides, by injury count the Indy 500 - today in the modern cars not in the 1992 ones - isn't even *that* significantly more hazardous to do than Monaco or Le Mans. 

[jonpollak]

The price of entry to #IndyRivals Autosport's league is now $5.99.

 

All proceeds go to the Make Nigerian Great Again fund.

 

Jp

[Prost1997T]

True, the risk exists. 

 

Then what? Alonso is a racer and it's racing, risks are racing so I would bet he accepts the risk. Besides, by injury count the Indy 500 - today in the modern cars not in the 1992 ones - isn't even *that* significantly more hazardous to do than Monaco or Le Mans. 

 

He's been injured at least 3 times in F1.

 

This isn't 1992 any more.

[Jvr]

The price of entry to #IndyRivals Autosport's league is now $5.99.

 

All proceeds go to the Make Nigerian Great Again fund.

 

Jp

Just wondering who is the Nigerian you collect the money for? 

[Peat]

Indy Virgins, read this: http://www.motorspor...-will-face-indy

[Marklar]

Lando Norris‏Verified account @LandoNorris 7h7 hours ago
So… @McLarenF1. I hear you need a driver for Monaco


also:

Autosport‏Verified account @autosport 51m51 minutes ago


More

McLaren doesn't have a replacement for Indy 500-bound Fernando Alonso at the Monaco GP yet #F1 http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/128935/mclaren-no-alonso-replacement-chosen-yet…


Lando Norris‏Verified account @LandoNorris 48m48 minutes ago


More
Replying to @autosport



Go for it, McLaren.

Has no super licence

[SophieB]

Has no super licence

 

Do not ruin this.

[Alfisti]

True, the risk exists. 

 

Then what? Alonso is a racer and it's racing, risks are racing so I would bet he accepts the risk. Besides, by injury count the Indy 500 - today in the modern cars not in the 1992 ones - isn't even *that* significantly more hazardous to do than Monaco or Le Mans. 

 

I think i tis exponentially more risk than LeMans or Monaco. Indy gives someone a fright just about every year, the impacts are monumental, don't kid yourself this is a serious step up in risk. 

[Vitesse2]

The price of entry to #IndyRivals Autosport's league is now $5.99.

 

All proceeds go to the Make Nigerian Great Again fund.

 

Jp

I think we're going to have to do that IndyCar glossary, Jon. All the n00bs are going to be totally baffled.

 

Which is why this thread needs more Karen Gillan.

 

 

"Fernando who?"

[JHSingo]

Couldn't give a damn who McLaren runs at Monaco. I'm too hyped about Alonso at Indy to care.

[jonpollak]

I think we're going to have to do that IndyCar glossary, Jon. All the n00bs are going to be totally baffled.

 

indubitably....

 

Now..here's a voice to listen to..

 

 

http://www.motorspor...-will-face-indy

 

Jp

[ArrowsLivery]

I assume the deal is that Alonso agrees to an extension with McLaren for 2018 (maybe even 2019?) in exchange for this entry at the 500. 

 

No way are McLaren just allowing him to do this without getting anything in return. 

[MinT]

This is huge news, and says something about the status of Indycar today.

 

A current F1 driver, and a double world champion at that, with backing from his team, is willing to miss Monaco to compete in the 500 is something that hasn't happened since the 1960s.

 

I think it says more about the current status of McLaren F1 actually...

[Ricardo F1]

I assume the deal is that Alonso agrees to an extension with McLaren for 2018 (maybe even 2019?) in exchange for this entry at the 500. 

 

No way are McLaren just allowing him to do this without getting anything in return. 

They get free Honda engines.  And great US publicity.

[jonpollak]

@MichaelAndretti confirms he'll call Fernando's race on box, and will have Eric Bretzman as engineer.

 

Jp

[Peat]

Cool! Sounds like they are throwing the kitchen sink at it.

[Joseki]

@MichaelAndretti confirms he'll call Fernando's race on box, and will have Eric Bretzman as engineer.

 

Jp

 

Michael is the team owner so it seems like it's a big deal, however I don't know the other guy, he's any good?

[RA2]

I think i tis exponentially more risk than LeMans or Monaco. Indy gives someone a fright just about every year, the impacts are monumental, don't kid yourself this is a serious step up in risk. 

 

 

True

 

The biggest risk today at indy is hitting the wall and car flipping into the fencing. They have not changed the design of the poles and still similar to days of Dan Weldon. 

[Peat]

Michael is the team owner so it seems like it's a big deal, however I don't know the other guy, he's any good?

Long time engineer at Ganassi for Dixon. Moved to AA last year and was engineer for Rossi.

[EthanM]

Michael is the team owner so it seems like it's a big deal, however I don't know the other guy, he's any good?

 

the other guy was a pretty sought after RE that *I think* moved to Andretti to be their Technical Director. So it's the equivalent of having Adrian Newey engineer your car*

 

(*yeah I 'm exaggerating, he's not on Newey's level in the sense he's not designing cars etc, but he's their Technical Director so their most senior engineer)

[Tardis40]

All I have to say is I hope it doesn't have a Honda engine!

[EthanM]

Long time engineer at Ganassi for Dixon. Moved to AA last year and was engineer for Rossi.

 

 

Really? I thought Jeremy Milless engineered Rossi and  Bretzman was the T.D.

 

EDIT: https://www.motorspo...ngineer-835192/

 

This ^ says what I though. Milless -> Rossi R.E., Bretzman T.D.

Edited by EthanM, 12 April 2017 - 18:20.

[Graveltrappen]

And then a McLaren LeMan24hr entry entry next year? Hints from McLaren today of a future entry... do they really want to keep Alonso that badly?

[Clatter]

All I have to say is I hope it doesn't have a Honda engine!

What engine are you expecting it to have?

[Graveltrappen]

All I have to say is I hope it doesn't have a Honda engine!

Spoiler

it does

Edited by Graveltrappen, 12 April 2017 - 18:20.

[Peat]

Really? I thought Jeremy Milless engineered Rossi and  Bretzman was the T.D.

That could well be true. I was going off of a press release from Jan'16.

[FLB]

Few people remember this, but Newey was an IndyCar engineer waaaay before he was an F1 engineer. The good ones aren't only in F1. Guillaume Roquelin (Vettel's engineer with Red Bull) also got his start in the US.

 

David Brown, after Mansell, Prost and Senna, went to work in the US as well.

Edited by FLB, 12 April 2017 - 18:27.

[Lights]

Noob questions: 

 

How can this be arranged so late? Why wasn't that seat already filled? Can teams just enter as many drivers as they want? What's the limit on the amount of drivers that turn up for practice/qualifying? 

[Stephane]

This is not late,

[kevinracefan]

I didn't meant real circuit as in that is rubbish, I meant real circuit and in that you have to break and do corners, I don't know how you called mixed circuit? I am not devaluing Indy, I think it is a fine event, but I doubt Alonso will be able to do much, just landing in an oval track which has very specialized characteristics to shine. 

Most F1 drivers took years learning ovals to be really competitive at it. Barrichello for example. On the other hand on mixed circuits they were on the pace very quickly. 

Jimmy Clark and Colin Chapman never acted like it wasn't  a proper circuit..

 

most Americans think it is..

 

YMMV

 

#bias_hinders_learning

[EthanM]

Noob questions: 

 

How can this be arranged so late? Why wasn't that seat already filled? Can teams just enter as many drivers as they want? What's the limit on the amount of drivers that turn up for practice/qualifying? 

 

 

Teams have spare entries, it's pretty common to run outside 1 event only drivers at Indy. Heck Montoya is only doing the Indy 500 this year. The tricky bit is securing an engine, considering the lead time is pretty short, but apparently they gave Wilson some budget help for his 2018 season in exchange for his engine so ... problem solved.

Edited by EthanM, 12 April 2017 - 18:32.

[kevinracefan]

Noob questions: 

 

How can this be arranged so late? Why wasn't that seat already filled? Can teams just enter as many drivers as they want? What's the limit on the amount of drivers that turn up for practice/qualifying? 

Stefan Wilson (Justin's brother) relinquished the deal he had going, to be compensated next year for doing so..

 

There are only a limited number of engines they can support, so Stefan stepped aside..

[kevinracefan]

All I have to say is I hope it doesn't have a Honda engine!

 

hilarious

[Peat]

Noob questions: 

 

How can this be arranged so late? Why wasn't that seat already filled? Can teams just enter as many drivers as they want? What's the limit on the amount of drivers that turn up for practice/qualifying? 

 

There is no limit, per se. There are 33 slots on the grid, anyone can have a go - provided they can get hold of a chassis and engine.

The engine is the troublesome bit. They are like rocking horse s***. At least, getting a current spec unit is. The car and engine Nando will be using was originally alloted for Stefan Wilson (brother of the late Justin) but deals were done this week to defer his entry to 2018 to let Fred have his ride.