Alonso Eyeing Indy 500 after Le Mans Win

After triumphing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Fernando Alonso has set his sights on the Indy 500. This is because, two thirds of motorsport’s triple crown is now complete.

Le Mans, the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indy 500 are considered motorsport’s three biggest races. So far, only one driver has achieved such a feat. That driver is former F1 champion Graham Hill.

However, in the modern era, calendar clashes and tight contracts prevent F1 drivers from racing in other series. Fortunately in Alonso’s case, McLaren is not caught up in a championship battle so the doors are open for him.

Last year he missed the Monaco Grand Prix for a one-off appearance at the Indy 500. Sadly, his car failed to cross the chequered flag and all while he was in a promising position.

The Indy 500 is expected to remain on the same weekend as the Monaco Grand Prix next year. This has led to speculation that Alonso will ditch F1 at the end of this season to focus on completing the triple crown.

“I will make my mind up after the summer what I will do next year, but after winning Le Mans, Indy comes into play with a high priority,” he said after Toyota’s victory on Sunday. “Let’s see if it is next year or the following year. Let’s see what the future of F1 will be.

“I attempted the Indy 500 last year with that intention and we were leading the race and close to winning but we missed the opportunity. Here we were leading the race and I was worried about missing the opportunity again but here we achieved it. It is definitely a very attractive target to try for the triple crown and see if I can be a better driver, a more complete driver.”

In the meantime, Alonso and the rest of the F1 paddock are preparing for the French Grand Prix this weekend as Le Castellet.