222 replies to this topic

[loki]

Official.  He’ll do it as long as he is in shape for it and comfortable.

 

https://www.autospor...paration-effort

[jonpollak]

More power to him.
I just dread Carlton Kirby.....
Jp

[kosmos]

Good luck, this is very different from the things he has done until now, really curious to see if he does well.

[Requiem84]

Massive respect for Alonso for venturing into these various kind of motorsports, not afraid to expose himself as a driver. He's showing that the old 'homo universalis' racing driver is still possible, despite many people saying it was something of the past. 

 

However, one thing I keep asking myself, would he be doing this if he would still have a top seat in F1? Perhaps something for another topic as we problaby should discuss Alonso's Dakar adventures here and not the fact why he is missing in F1.

[as65p]

Good luck, this is very different from the things he has done until now, really curious to see if he does well.

 

The nice thing is, two of the main Alonso worries often cited here won't matter at the Dakar. The cars are big enough for a bit of baggage and burning bridges they just jump over....

 

[noikeee]

 

However, one thing I keep asking myself, would he be doing this if he would still have a top seat in F1? Perhaps something for another topic as we problaby should discuss Alonso's Dakar adventures here and not the fact why he is missing in F1.

 

No. It's not that he wouldn't have wanted to, but that contracts would forbid him. It was already pretty crazy that they let him skip a race (!) to do the Indy 500, but that was only in the very special circumstances of McLaren being in absolute horseshit form and wanting to do everything to keep him as a driver.

[HistoryFan]

Is there a list of F1 drivers competing in Rallye Dakar so far with results, cars and so on?

[Kalmake]

I have utmost respect to anyone who takes up such a challenge as figuring out which continent hosts Dakar this time.

[Tsarwash]

I have utmost respect to anyone who takes up such a challenge as figuring out which continent hosts Dakar this time.

Isn't it happening in the Cotswolds this year ? 

[Myrvold]

Massive respect for Alonso for venturing into these various kind of motorsports, not afraid to expose himself as a driver. He's showing that the old 'homo universalis' racing driver is still possible, despite many people saying it was something of the past. 

Just by looking outside the F1 bubble, it happens - a lot. People doing open wheelers, sportcars, rally, raids, stock cars, touring cars etc.

 

It's mainly F1 which is so self centered

[f1paul]

He'll do incredibly well to finish in the top five. Anything better will be unbelievable, the Dakar is incredibly tough and you need a little bit of luck too.

 

Great to see him do it. 

[Myrvold]

Is there a list of F1 drivers competing in Rallye Dakar so far with results, cars and so on?

Maybe, probably. Let's just go off my mind on some F1 drivers.

 

Phillipe Aillot, Eric Bernard, Paul Belmondo, Norberto Fontana, Jacky Ickx(Won it!), Patrick Tambay(Podium finisher), Eliseo Salazar, Clay Regazzoni and Jan Lammers. I am sure there are more.

[Requiem84]

Just by looking outside the F1 bubble, it happens - a lot. People doing open wheelers, sportcars, rally, raids, stock cars, touring cars etc.

 

It's mainly F1 which is so self centered

 

To me it feels more like people in open wheel classes have a harder time branching out to other categories. I don't think that for example Indy car has a lot of drivers who are doing similar stuff to Alonso? 

 

Sure, FE is a nice contradicting example, but right now FE is more of a collection of racing drivers rather than drivers who went through all feeder categories to get there. Perhaps it's the junior feeder open wheel category that makes them kind of a specialists?

[AustinF1]

Forza Fernando! Dude is a real gearhead. Driving anything & everything. My kid is really excited about it as well...  This is gonna be fun.

[Myrvold]

To me it feels more like people in open wheel classes have a harder time branching out to other categories. I don't think that for example Indy car has a lot of drivers who are doing similar stuff to Alonso? 

It depends what you mean as similar stuff as Alonso? Endurance-racing like WEC/IMSA/Prototypes, there is a bunch of them.

Rally Raids, well, Alonso hasn't started Dakar yet. Alexander Rossi did Baja 1000 last year. Bourdais have also done Baja, and so have numerous other Indycar champions/drivers done.

So I would still argue it's the F1 bubble that needs bursting

[loki]

He'll do incredibly well to finish in the top five. Anything better will be unbelievable, the Dakar is incredibly tough and you need a little bit of luck too.

 

Great to see him do it. 

He’ll do well to finish period let alone to 10.  I’d consider it an accomplishment just to roll off the line. 

[Fatgadget]

Maybe, probably. Let's just go off my mind on some F1 drivers.

 

Phillipe Aillot, Eric Bernard, Paul Belmondo, Norberto Fontana, Jacky Ickx(Won it!), Patrick Tambay(Podium finisher), Eliseo Salazar, Clay Regazzoni and Jan Lammers. I am sure there are more.

How about Schlesser him of that incredible self built 2WD Buggy?

[beachdrifter]

He’ll do well to finish period let alone to 10.  I’d consider it an accomplishment just to roll off the line. 

 

Do you have to qualify for it? If so, that could become a problem! 

[Joseki]

Do you have to qualify for it? If so, that could become a problem! 

Thankfully McLaren is out of the picture

[Imateria]

How about Schlesser him of that incredible self built 2WD Buggy?

I'm pretty sure Schlesser is famous for only two things, Dakar wins and tripping up Sena at Monza '88.

[Ben1445]

He’s a brave man. Best of luck to him!

To me it feels more like people in open wheel classes have a harder time branching out to other categories. I don't think that for example Indy car has a lot of drivers who are doing similar stuff to Alonso?

Sure, FE is a nice contradicting example, but right now FE is more of a collection of racing drivers rather than drivers who went through all feeder categories to get there. Perhaps it's the junior feeder open wheel category that makes them kind of a specialists?

I really like that aspect of FE. You’ve got some drivers coming in from above who have had predating success elsewhere as well as drivers coming in from underneath out of F3/F2. Also some going sideways between series. It really *is* a collection of racing drivers, and really probably down to (currently) being relatively new and unique. I like it.

[ElectricBoogie]

Sure, the guy likes his motorsport, would wish to race every day. Most of them would.

Am I the only one that feels it's just the Alonso Celebrates Alonso Motorsport Tour Of Legends?

Can't bring himself step down to a full season of mediocre Indycar racing, just wants the 500 win to be an official legend. 

[JRodrigues]

Just another way to stay in the headlines.. and relevant in history. Just like he wishes.

[AustinF1]

Just another way to stay in the headlines.. and relevant in history. Just like he wishes.

Or just a new & different way to just go racin' & keep growing as a driver ...

[AustinF1]

Sure, the guy likes his motorsport, would wish to race every day. Most of them would.

Am I the only one that feels it's just the Alonso Celebrates Alonso Motorsport Tour Of Legends?

Can't bring himself step down to a full season of mediocre Indycar racing, just wants the 500 win to be an official legend. 

Once again, he's never said he won't ever do a full IndyCar season. He's said he may do one - just not in 2019 or 2020.

[Ben1445]

Alonso has been friends with Carlos Sainz and Sainz Jr for a while now, inspiring the latter into F1 rather than into rally. Looks like Sainz Sr has played a part in convincing him about Dakar, which is kind of coming full circle there.

It sounds a lot more like doing stuff he fancies doing with some friends than a global ‘I am a motorsport legend’ hero tour.

[LucaP]

Maybe, probably. Let's just go off my mind on some F1 drivers.

Phillipe Aillot, Eric Bernard, Paul Belmondo, Norberto Fontana, Jacky Ickx(Won it!), Patrick Tambay(Podium finisher), Eliseo Salazar, Clay Regazzoni and Jan Lammers. I am sure there are more.

Pescarolo

[ElectricBoogie]

Once again, he's never said he won't ever do a full IndyCar season. He's said he may do one - just not in 2019 or 2020.

I preferred the Mansell approach personally.
Sounds like he just waits for someone to whisper the number he wants to hear.

[kosmos]

Just another way to stay in the headlines.. and relevant in history. Just like he wishes.

 

 

Yeah he is going to risk his life because he wants to be in the headlines.

[revmeister]

Just another way to stay in the headlines.. and relevant in history. Just like he wishes.

After all these years and the great racing Alonso has done, this is all you get from him? Your loss I guess.

Edited by revmeister, 21 August 2019 - 12:29.

[McLaren1702]

'Moving the goalpost' comes to my mind when reading some replies. Whatever Alonso does, it's never enough. "He's doing the Indy 500 to stay relevant, but only a full season somewhere is worthwhile". "A WEC season is nice, but he wouldn't have done it if he hadn't had a dominant car". "This Dakar endeavour is nice, but a full IndyCar season is what he needs to do and what really counts". If he'd do a full IndyCar season, I'm sure another comment to that would pop up.

We should be happy to see one of F1's (former) top drivers branch out and try new disciplines. I haven't seen it since I started following motorsports and I'm enjoying it. I hope it's just the start of a trend. Imagine Vettel in the Indy 500, Hamilton at Daytona or Verstappen at Le Mans. It might or might not happen, but wouldn't it be great? Just imagine the possibilities.

Edited by McLaren1702, 21 August 2019 - 12:45.

[Tsarwash]

Yeah he is going to risk his life because he wants to be in the headlines.

I admire Alonso for doing this but I don't think he is risking his life any more than in open wheel racing. 

[Myrvold]

'Moving the goalpost' comes to my mind when reading some replies. Whatever Alonso does, it's never enough. "He's doing the Indy 500 to stay relevant, but only a full season somewhere is worthwhile". "A WEC season is nice, but he wouldn't have done it if he hadn't had a dominant car". "This Dakar endeavour is nice, but a full IndyCar season is what he needs to do and what really counts". If he'd do a full IndyCar season, I'm sure another comment to that would pop up.

We should be happy to see one of F1's (former) top drivers branch out and try new disciplines. I haven't seen it since I started following motorsports and I'm enjoying it. I hope it's just the start of a trend. Imagine Vettel in the Indy 500, Hamilton at Daytona or Verstappen at Le Mans. It might or might not happen, but wouldn't it be great? Just imagine the possibilities.

It would've been nice to see him to a full season in Indy, as he doesn't seem to have anything else full-time lined up, but Indy 500 one-offs are normal, so no-one should hold that against him. The WEC-thing is understandable. The whole 18/19 season felt hollow, 19/20 will as well. And I doubt we'd seen Alonso do it in a Rebellion.
Dakar might be the most interesting one for me, Toyota hasn't been the car to have there, and Nasser really only won the 2019 one due to him being consistent. With that being said, "Dakar" solely in Saudi Arabia isn't anything what Dakar used to be, or should be sadly. Not that it is anything against Alonso.

 

If you started when you registered here, I get you, but we had Hülkenberg (admittely, maybe not a top driver, but nevertheless upper half F1) winning Le Mans in 2015. I am fairly sure that Verstappen will do Le Mans, possibly also Norris. Vettel won't ever do Indy, actually, I think when Vettel retires from F1, he retires from racing to spend time with his family.

[AustinF1]

Yep, and while Alonso hasn't ruled out doing a full IndyCar season .... the thing about a full IndyCar season is the ovals. And I don't mean Indy. Indy isn't an oval. Lots of people, even some IndyCar drivers, don't wanna do ovals in IndyCars, and I don't blame them. I have no idea how Alonso feels about that, but I can't hold it against anyone if they don;t wanna run ovals in an IndyCar at 230+ mph. I like to drive fast and have done so on a couple of big time race tracks, but I'm not touching that ****.

[beachdrifter]

Yep, and while Alonso hasn't ruled out doing a full IndyCar season .... the thing about a full IndyCar season is the ovals. And I don't mean Indy. Indy isn't an oval. Lots of people, even some IndyCar drivers, don't wanna do ovals in IndyCars, and I don't blame them. I have no idea how Alonso feels about that, but I can't hold it against anyone if they don;t wanna run ovals in an IndyCar at 230+ mph. I like to drive fast and have done so on a couple of big time race tracks, but I'm not touching that ****.

 

Alonso tested the car and found it disappointing (according to unofficial comments he made at the test).

 

The reason he isn't doing a full season is because it's not a prospect that excites him. At the very least, the car has to appeal to him, and it doesn't. 

[AustinF1]

Alonso tested the car and found it disappointing (according to unofficial comments he made at the test).

 

The reason he isn't doing a full season is because it's not a prospect that excites him. At the very least, the car has to appeal to him, and it doesn't. 

Were any quotes of that ever published?  Otherwise, that seems like a lot of mindreading based on rumor. I have watched a few videos from that test, and I don't remember him being anything other than positive about it.

 

But ... if he really did say that and he doesn't want a full season because of it, that's consistent with what he's said about only doing something excites him going forward.

Edited by AustinF1, 21 August 2019 - 13:56.

[ANF]

Yep, and while Alonso hasn't ruled out doing a full IndyCar season .... the thing about a full IndyCar season is the ovals. And I don't mean Indy. Indy isn't an oval. Lots of people, even some IndyCar drivers, don't wanna do ovals in IndyCars, and I don't blame them. I have no idea how Alonso feels about that, but I can't hold it against anyone if they don;t wanna run ovals in an IndyCar at 230+ mph. I like to drive fast and have done so on a couple of big time race tracks, but I'm not touching that ****.

In order to win auto racing's real Triple Crown you must win at Pocono:



(The official high-quality upload is sadly missing Bob Jenkins's Triple Crown introduction: https://youtu.be/zSfjypjNL-I )

[beachdrifter]

Were any quotes of that ever published?  Otherwise, that seems like a lot of mindreading based on rumor. I have watched a few videos from that test, and I don't remember him being anything other than positive about it.

 

I think Autobild or amus reported it at the time. They also reported the large disparity between the official and unofficial comments. It's quite logical that Alonso - especially with the reputation he has - would go out of his way to praise everything at such a test. Anything other than that would be idiotic, especially since he still wanted to drive the Indy 500.

 

He also talked about how he loves ovals, btw. Officially. 

 

So if Brown says that Alonso told him he doesn't want to do a full season, I'm not surprised. He'd have to be extremely bored/desperate to do something he doesn't really feel like doing.

 

https://www.motorspo...e-lust-19072903

Edited by beachdrifter, 21 August 2019 - 14:09.

[AustinF1]

I think Autobild or amus reported it at the time. They also reported the large disparity between the official and unofficial comments. It's quite logical that Alonso - especially with the reputation he has - would go out of his way to praise everything at such a test. Anything other than that would be idiotic, especially since he still wanted to drive the Indy 500.

 

He also talked about how he loves ovals, btw. Officially. 

 

So if Brown says that Alonso told him he doesn't want to do a full season, I'm not surprised. He'd have to be extremely bored/desperate to do something he doesn't really feel like doing.

 

https://www.motorspo...e-lust-19072903

So no quotes. It's logical that he'd say positive things at the test, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't be true. I'm not saying he never said anything negative. It's just that we have no real indication that he did say those things, and we have positive quotes to the contrary...

 

Brown has said that Alonso said he doesn't want a full season in IndyCar yet. Even in the article you quoted, you have to look at the totality of the quote for the full context. Hell, look at the title. They aren't even trying to suggest Alonso never wants to run a full season.

 

Rather than  just "He told me he does not want to drive a full season" ... you need to look at the whole thing, without the author's text inserted in the middle ... "Nothing has changed, not even contractually. We would love to have him in our IndyCar program if he wants to, but he has not decided what he will do next year. He told me he does not want to drive a full season, let's see what happens when he's been home for two weeks for the first time in 20 years and can not race a car".

[beachdrifter]

So no quotes. It's logical that he'd say positive things at the test, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't be true. I'm not saying he never said anything negative. It's just that we have no real indication that he did say those things, and we have positive quotes to the contrary...

 
Of course there are no "unofficial quotes". How could there be? However, it was reported in quite some detail what he doesn't like about the car, and how he felt about it. And it was understandable. That's more than good enough for me, I'm not surprised he hasn't committed to an Indycar season. It would be pretty much the last resort.
 

They aren't even trying to suggest Alonso never wants to run a full season.

 
That's a strawman. You have to look at the totality of [what I wrote and linked to] for the full context.
 
Brown summed it up well:
 

"He told me he does not want to drive a full season, let's see what happens when he's been home for two weeks for the first time in 20 years and can not race a car".

 

Agag for example hopes to lure him into Formula E. Similar problem. Doesn't mean he will never do it.  But if he doesn't, I understand why. 

Edited by beachdrifter, 21 August 2019 - 14:50.

[AustinF1]

That's a strawman. You have to look at the totality of [what I wrote and linked to] for the full context. 

 

Brown summed it up well: 

I've read it all. Doesn't change a thing. I don't have a real preference as to whether Alonso ever does a full IndyCar season, but that's not at all a straw man. You're ignoring the context of the quote, selecting only the bit that makes it sound like Brown is saying Alonso told him he doesn't want to do a full season at all. What he really said was clearly in the context of what Alonso wants or plans to do next year:

We would love to have him in our IndyCar program if he wants to, but he has not decided what he will do next year. He told me he does not want to drive a full season

Even the author was realistic in the title about what Brown's saying there: "McLaren: IndyCar without Alonso? The Spaniard does not feel like it (yet)"

 

 

Re: the test quotes, the bottom line is that there apparently aren't any. Without quotes, it's just so much rumor.

Edited by AustinF1, 21 August 2019 - 15:04.

[PedroDiCasttro]

Brown also said they're gonna have a talk at Monza, didn't he?

 

Perhaps something will come out of it, I find it hard to believe that Alonso is only doing the Dakar next year. 

[beachdrifter]

I don't have a real preference as to whether Alonso ever does a full IndyCar season, but that's not at all a straw man. You're ignoring the context of the quote, chopping out the bit that makes it sound like Brown is saying Alonso told him he doesn't want to do a full season at all. What he really said was clearly in the context of what Alonso wants or plans to do next year.

 

 

The "never" part was the straw man. No one suggested that. Not me (I even suggested he might if...), not Brown, not Alonso. 

 

But I understand why he hasn't committed to a full season despite being out of F1 since 2018.

Edited by beachdrifter, 21 August 2019 - 14:59.

[beachdrifter]

Brown also said they're gonna have a talk at Monza, didn't he?

 

Perhaps something will come out of it, I find it hard to believe that Alonso is only doing the Dakar next year. 

 

The Dakar is 1.5 weeks, plus whatever preparation he might put into it. I'd say Alonso is running out of options rather quickly. 

Edited by beachdrifter, 21 August 2019 - 15:03.

[AustinF1]

The "never" part was the straw man. No one suggested that. Not me (I even suggested he might if...), not Brown, not Alonso. 

 

But I understand why he hasn't committed to a full season despite being out of F1 since 2018.

While you never said "Never", it sure seems like you were suggesting it here.

 

Alonso tested the car and found it disappointing (according to unofficial comments he made at the test).

 

The reason he isn't doing a full season is because it's not a prospect that excites him. At the very least, the car has to appeal to him, and it doesn't. 

If you weren't, then it's hard to tell what kind of point you were making.  

 

You suggested "he might if..." what? Where is that suggestion?

Edited by AustinF1, 21 August 2019 - 15:08.

[AustinF1]

Do you have to qualify for it? If so, that could become a problem! 

Yeah. Because Alonso was the problem in Indy.   Last time I checked, McLaren isn't running the Dakar.

[beachdrifter]

You suggested "he might if..." what? Where?

 

I said: 

 

"He'd have to be extremely bored/desperate to do something he doesn't really feel like doing."

 

 

Among other things. The point I made was a reply to your theory that it's about the "ovals". I think it's about the car. If he was excited about it, he'd be all over it.

Edited by beachdrifter, 21 August 2019 - 15:15.

[AustinF1]

I said: 

 

 

Among other things. The point I made was a reply to your theory that it's about the "ovals". I think it's about the car.

LOL. That's where you made that 'suggestion'? I guess I don't see that there...

 

At any rate, I didn't have any theory. I was just saying that a lot of people don;t want to do those ovals in an IndyCar, and that I wouldn't hold that against anyone, including Alonso, if that was something that might keep him from doing it.

[Lotusse7en]

Official.  He’ll do it as long as he is in shape for it and comfortable.

 

https://www.autospor...paration-effort

Currently testing here i South Africa & Namibia . Scheduled to enter the next SA Off Road series race in Sept 

 

https://www.youtube....N8v-ZDUqf4n2NjY

Edited by Lotusse7en, 21 August 2019 - 15:18.

[AustinF1]

Currently testing here i South Africa & Namibia . Scheduled to enter the next SA Off Road series race in Sept 

 

https://www.youtube....N8v-ZDUqf4n2NjY

Nice find! Damn, that looks fun, and difficult...