Fernando Alonso speaking to NBC announcer Robin Miller in Pit Lane at Indianapolis. [Joe Skibinski Photo]
By Allan Brewer
Should the City of Indianapolis and its legendary Speedway need a good-natured, handsome spokesman, there is a Spaniard ready and willing to shoulder the burden and toast the town.
Fernando Alonso, twice Formula 1 champion and now a winner of both LeMans and Daytona, is back and happier than ever to be in the Hoosier state.
“It’s good to be back,” he said today on his first day of practice for the 2019 Indianapolis 500. “To feel again the magic of this place, the size of everything again. It felt good.”
We, those of us who live here, will forgive Fernando his cheer on another cold, rainy April day in America’s Heartland. The intermittent rain showers over Speedway, Indiana played havoc for the McLaren team and its superstar driver—just as it has for over a hundred years before them. The drizzly rain and partly sunny interlude in mid-afternoon compromised the entire field on practice time, of ample time to settle in with their cars and get comfortable.
“It’s always important—the track time you have. You may discover issues on the car, you may discover things you can improve as a driver,” he said. “It’s time lost from learning for us in a brand-new car. We need to check many things still.” Adding to that learning curve is the relative solitude his team faces in its independence from the Andretti forces that gave Fernando as near a “turn-key” operation as possible in 2017.
The day had to be particularly frustrating for Alonso as his first circuit of the oval came to a powerless end and electrical problems (speculated to be a failed battery) ended his brief run-up to a serious lap. “It was frustrating for everyone,” he said. “We lost time at the beginning, which was not unexpected with a brand new chassis, brand new car. “
As anyone who has followed Fernando Alonso’s career is aware he is incredibly upbeat, and confident. “I am happy to be back here because this place is great,” he said, casting away his troubles as easily as tossing away pieces of candy. “The two weeks (leading up to the Indy 500) here are going to be amazing.”
In Alonso’s mind the “Triple Crown of Racing” (LeMans, Monaco and Indy) is an act of will. It requires but a rote reset of driving style and mindset. A private test at Texas Motor Speedway on the oval two weeks ago and a session or two on the simulator should be enough. As Alonso said in his remarks afterwards, “Being ready to turn left for two weeks and to be brave on some occasions is what it’s all about.”
Allan Brewer covers IndyCar and other racing series for RacingNation.com. Allan is a fixture at the race track, armed with keyboard and camera, eager to take you inside open-wheel sport where the news is being made. He comes to RacingNation.com with multiple professional awards from the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (AWWRBA). He began his motorsports writing career at FastMachines.com; and solely published IndyProRacer.com and A1GP.com, two award-winning websites for open-wheel racing’s junior leagues, prior to becoming IndyCar correspondent at Motorsport.com. He has also covered Formula 1, NASCAR, Formula E, the Indy Lights Series and its predecessor Indy Pro Series, NHRA events and major auto shows. His major interest outside of competition is automotive technology and its application to the cars we drive every day on the public highways.