172 replies to this topic

[Clrnc]

Honestly, it'd be disappointing if Alonso didn't go for a full season. If a WEC season with only one other competitor was worthwhile, surely an IndyCar season with tremendous circuits and tremendous competition is also worth a year of his life.

He is still holding hopes of a return to f1 with a top team

[red stick]

All he's said regarding a full IndyCar season is that he wouldn't be doing one in 2020. He can always do one later if he decides to. 

Yeah, let whomever McSchmidt gets for next year work out all the "merger" kinks, then dominate in 2021. Pretty sly.

[AustinF1]

Yeah, let whomever McSchmidt gets for next year work out all the "merger" kinks, then dominate in 2021. Pretty sly.

You really think that's his only IndyCar option long term? The Andrettis love him, & it seems he's pretty popular in the IndyCar paddock in general.

[red stick]

You really think that's his only IndyCar option long term? The Andrettis love him, & it seems he's pretty popular in the IndyCar paddock in general.

Yes.

[ANF]

I remember him saying how he wants to establish his legacy as a racing driver outside of F1 now that he's free to do so, and to be honest I feel like the execution of that plan has been kinda underwhelming. Sure he has Daytona, Le Mans and WEC, but in the end that's only a handful of races. Is that all he's gonna do?

I obviously don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised if Le Mans was the last time we saw him in a competitive race car. Maybe he'll have a final go at Indy and maybe give Dakar™ a try...

[AustinF1]

Yes.

I see zero reasons to believe that.

[red stick]

Well, if Alonso ever drives a full IndyCar season for anybody other than McLaren, than I hereby acknowledge that AustinF1 has staked a claim to the ever-valuable, "I told you so," bragging rights.

 

I can live with that. 

[AustinF1]

Well, if Alonso ever drives a full IndyCar season for anybody other than McLaren, than I hereby acknowledge that AustinF1 has staked a claim to the ever-valuable, "I told you so," bragging rights.

 

I can live with that. 

I'm not making a claim & I'm not interested in bragging rights. I'm making a simple observation based on Alonso having been very well received in the IndyCar paddock and by the fans, having seemed to be in awe of the experience, the place, and the people, and having excelled behind the wheel. You're making the claim in absolute terms that there's only one team that would entertain the notion of putting Alonso behind the wheel for a season. 

 

I have no idea what Alonso wants to do or whether he'll ever drive a full season in IndyCar or any other series again. All I know is what he and others have said publicly.

[Anja]

He's literally been gone from F1 for less than 9 months (if you don't count testing). And he also has several other good races in there as well. What were you expecting in the first 9 months?

 

Yeah, but we're in the crucial phase of 2020 planning and it looks increasingly likely that he won't do anything full-time. That's not a good sign for even more distant future, and he's not getting any younger... 

[AustinF1]

Yeah, but we're in the crucial phase of 2020 planning and it looks increasingly likely that he won't do anything full-time. That's not a good sign for even more distant future, and he's not getting any younger... 

I dunno what it looks like, except that he seems to have some options to more than keep him busy.

[loki]

You really think that's his only IndyCar option long term? The Andrettis love him, & it seems he's pretty popular in the IndyCar paddock in general.

Yes.  Unless he brings money/lands sponsor.  The Andrettis like him because he brings money.  No ICS team outside of McLaren is going to foot the bill for him running the 500 without some backing.

 

As for the others mentioning Dakar still no rumblings inside "that crowd", at least not any we aren't already hearing from the motorsport press.  It's not too late yet but he better get on the stick if he's going to attempt it this year.  Registration closes Oct 31 so we'll know by then.  Morocco is coming up and it will be the same sort of terrain as Dakar 2020 so he should be doing that plus testing.   If he's going to do that they'd need to know, like now.  It's at the beginning of Oct.

Edited by loki, 15 August 2019 - 02:38.

[AustinF1]

Yes.  Unless he brings money/lands sponsor.  The Andrettis like him because he brings money.  No ICS team outside of McLaren is going to foot the bill for him running the 500 without some backing.

That describes pretty much everyone though. Nobody said an IndyCar team will foot the bill for him. And of course the Andrettis like Alonso for the $$$, but the praise they've heaped on him go beyond bringing money, attention to the team, or even his knowledge, professional approach, and driving abilities. They rave about what a nice guy he is, the ease of working with him, and how he's so opposite the impression so many have of him.

 

There is one thing though that I could see potentially preventing him from running in a non-McLaren IndyCar right now - his McLaren contract. Brown has publicly said Fernando can take a ride in another F1 team if it comes up, but to my knowledge he never said that about IndyCar. But who knows what might happen once that contract is up. According to what Michael Andretti said, it may be the only thing keeping him from a future Andretti seat. That could also be why Alonso has said he won;t be doing a full IndyCar season in 2020.

[loki]

There is one thing though that I could see potentially preventing him from running in a non-McLaren IndyCar right now - his McLaren contract. Brown has publicly said Fernando can take a ride in another F1 team if it comes up, but to my knowledge he never said that about IndyCar. But who knows what might happen once that contract is up. According to what Michael Andretti said, it may be the only thing keeping him from a future Andretti seat. That could also be why Alonso has said he won;t be doing a full IndyCar season in 2020.

 

Keep hope alive...

 

There ain't going to be any full time Alonso at Andretti or anywhere else in ICS.  I'd reckon another time or two at the 500 but unless he's in a top car a win isn't going to happen.  

[red stick]

There is one thing though that I could see potentially preventing him from running in a non-McLaren IndyCar right now - his McLaren contract. Brown has publicly said Fernando can take a ride in another F1 team if it comes up, but to my knowledge he never said that about IndyCar. But who knows what might happen once that contract is up. 

 

And here is where you've stumbled uncontrollably into a hard truth.  My opinion is based on what Zak Brown and Alonso have said publicly.  Brown has indicated to all who ask that Alonso remains tied to McLaren in some contractual manner, the terms of which we do not know, but one he seems pretty confident about.  Alonso has expressed a desire to win the Indy 500 to complete his personal Triple Crown, but has not expressed any burning desire to race a full IndyCar season.  I'm simply taking both men at their word.

 

Alonso competing in IndyCar for a full season, or seasons, is fans' dream, not his.

Edited by red stick, 15 August 2019 - 10:57.

[AustinF1]

And here is where you've stumbled uncontrollably into a hard truth.  My opinion is based on what Zak Brown and Alonso have said publicly.  Brown has indicated to all who ask that Alonso remains tied to McLaren in some contractual manner, the terms of which we do not know, but one he seems pretty confident about.  Alonso has expressed a desire to win the Indy 500 to complete his personal Triple Crown, but has not expressed any burning desire to race a full IndyCar season.  I'm simply taking both men at their word.

 

Alonso competing in IndyCar for a full season, or seasons, is fans' dream, not his.

Yes, as I said, he has a contract right now that might keep him from racing in IndyCar for another team, and as we've both alluded, we don't know the terms. It could be for 10 years, which is unlikely, or it could end in a year, or two, or in 6 months, or who knows how long. One thing we do know is that it will end. Brown says Alonso is currently still tied to McLaren as an ambassador, that they're still talking to him about other McLaren projects, and that Alonso is at the top of their list of prospects to fill a full-time IndyCar seat. Given that neither of us knows the terms of the contract, are you still insisting that McLaren is his only IndyCar option long term? 

 

I wouldn't mind seeing Alonso running a full IndyCar season or two. It could be cool, but while some people are hoping for it, it's not a dream of mine. I'm just interested to see what he does next & will follow whatever that is.

 

As for his 'burning desire' to run a full IndyCar season and what different parties are saying about that, I have no idea what level of desire he has to ever do that, on the range from 'none' to 'burning' ... but Alonso has on more than one occasion expressed interest in doing a full season at some point, saying it wouldn't be in 2019 or 2020 due to the huge commitment required. He has also said publicly that he has no interest in a partial season. Michael Andretti seems to think he wants to do it at some point, too. He said that when Alonso was presented with the option of a partial season or a full one with Andretti, Alonso rejected the idea of a partial season, saying that outside of just doing the 500, he'd only be interested in a full season. Brown said recently that he doubts Alonso wants to do a full season with McLaren in 2020.

[johnwilliamdavies]

On last night's TV coverage Robin Miler said he doubts Herta or Hinchcliffe will be at McLaren next year. And that if the team does well in 2020 then Alonso might join for the 2021 season.

Edited by johnwilliamdavies, 19 August 2019 - 09:00.

[Beri]

Yes, as I said, he has a contract right now that might keep him from racing in IndyCar for another team, and as we've both alluded, we don't know the terms. It could be for 10 years, which is unlikely, or it could end in a year, or two, or in 6 months, or who knows how long. One thing we do know is that it will end. Brown says Alonso is currently still tied to McLaren as an ambassador, that they're still talking to him about other McLaren projects, and that Alonso is at the top of their list of prospects to fill a full-time IndyCar seat. Given that neither of us knows the terms of the contract, are you still insisting that McLaren is his only IndyCar option long term? 
 
I wouldn't mind seeing Alonso running a full IndyCar season or two. It could be cool, but while some people are hoping for it, it's not a dream of mine. I'm just interested to see what he does next & will follow whatever that is.
 
As for his 'burning desire' to run a full IndyCar season and what different parties are saying about that, I have no idea what level of desire he has to ever do that, on the range from 'none' to 'burning' ... but Alonso has on more than one occasion expressed interest in doing a full season at some point, saying it wouldn't be in 2019 or 2020 due to the huge commitment required. He has also said publicly that he has no interest in a partial season. Michael Andretti seems to think he wants to do it at some point, too. He said that when Alonso was presented with the option of a partial season or a full one with Andretti, Alonso rejected the idea of a partial season, saying that outside of just doing the 500, he'd only be interested in a full season. Brown said recently that he doubts Alonso wants to do a full season with McLaren in 2020.

Is it a weird thought to have when I doubt Alonso would go for a full season at a midfield team that McLaren/Schmidt is (at this moment in time)? If a seat opens up at Ganassi or Penske, I do think he will be one of the first drivers to receive a phone call by Chip or Roger.

[AustinF1]

Is it a weird thought to have when I doubt Alonso would go for a full season at a midfield team that McLaren/Schmidt is (at this moment in time)? If a seat opens up at Ganassi or Penske, I do think he will be one of the first drivers to receive a phone call by Chip or Roger.

No, I don't think it's weird. I have the same feeling, and by the sound of it, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he ended up in an Andretti Honda, either ... after his McLaren obligation is fulfilled.

[AustinF1]

BTW, the Arrow-McLaren tie-up frees Honda to eventually power another team. Any ideas who that could end up being?

[loki]

MARCA is reporting an Alonso to Dakar 2020 with Marc Coma as the co-dawg out of the Gazoo Racing stable announcement in the next day or two.  French TV is also reporting it as a done deal waiting for the official announcement.   That should keep ol’ Fred busy until Feb.

 

edit:Toyota and Gazoo confirm its happening but Fred can back out if he’s not up to it.

Edited by loki, 20 August 2019 - 08:33.

[Beri]

No, I don't think it's weird. I have the same feeling, and by the sound of it, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he ended up in an Andretti Honda, either ... after his McLaren obligation is fulfilled.

Im glad Im not the only one thinking Alonso should and could end up with a (for now) better seat than at McLaren/Schmidt.

BTW, the Arrow-McLaren tie-up frees Honda to eventually power another team. Any ideas who that could end up being?

ECR or Carlin?

MARCA is reporting an Alonso to Dakar 2020 with Marc Coma as the co-dawg out of the Gazoo Racing stable announcement in the next day or two.  French TV is also reporting it as a done deal waiting for the official announcement.   That should keep ol’ Fred busy until Feb.

Well, preparing for a full season will need dedication and commitment. But considering Fred would only have about a month to prepare after his Dakar journey, I would doubt him going for a full time seat in the IndyCars.

[maximilian]

Honda was already supplying more entries than Chevy, so losing 2 cars wouldn't necessarily mean they need to add them back in (also as mentioned by the TV commentary team).  But there is talk about a 3rd Rahal car and even possibly a 3rd Ganassi car (although it could be a Meyer-Shank collab), so they may still up their total without a whole other Chevy team making the switch.

Edited by maximilian, 20 August 2019 - 11:40.

[Mohican]

Apart from all this talk about Alonso, perhaps worth noting that SPM does not appear a happy team right now. And more to the point, not a praticularly good one either.

Not their fault that Hinchcliffe got taken out on the first lap, and not their fault that first practice and qualifying rained out - but that was particularly hard for them as Ericsson was probably the only driver in the field who had never driven the circuit before final practice.

Under the circumstances, I thought he did well to at one point run P5 - but then the car developed incurable understeer making him lose 0.5 seconds a lap over a long period, during which he faded through the field.

 

So what was the first thing that happened when McLaren deal was announced two weeks ago ? Technical director, who was also Ericsson's race strategist, got fired...makes you wonder what's behind that. The team certainly needed him at Pocono.