Top Moments of 2018 - #10: Alonso Coming Back

Editor’s Note: This is the first of a series of 10 vignettes in which IMS Senior Communications Manager Paul Kelly picks his top 10 moments of 2018 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

An earthquake struck the motorsports world when Fernando Alonso announced April 12, 2017 that he was skipping the Monaco Grand Prix – the crown jewel of the Formula One schedule – to race in the 102nd Indianapolis 500.

Alonso’s decision to pursue the unofficial Triple Crown of global motorsport shook fans in delight as they admired the Spaniard’s desire to return to a time when elite drivers hopped among different cars in disparate disciplines to burnish their legend. Those days seemingly were gone in an era of specialization, huge sponsor and media demands, and contracts prohibiting freelancing.

Reality nearly exceeded the dream in May 2017 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Alonso and his fans. He showed speed immediately, qualifying a stunning fifth in his first IndyCar Series and oval race. He led a remarkable four times for 27 laps and was running seventh, nose-to-tail with eventual winner and former F1 driver Takuma Sato, with 25 laps to go.

But Alonso’s chance to add an Indy 500 victory to a resume that included two F1 World Championships and two Monaco Grand Prix wins was cruelly halted on Lap 180 when a puff of white smoke trailed from the rear of his No. 29 McLaren-Andretti-Honda entry. He pulled off track inside Turn 1, his day over.

Alonso vowed after the race to return to Indy someday, but many of the fans who fell in love with his humility and embrace of far greater fan access in American racing figured that day may be a few years away, once his F1 career ended.

That timetable appeared to move up after two events in 2018. First, Alonso won the Le Mans 24 Hours as part of the Toyota factory team. Winning at Indy was the sole missing leg in his quest to join Graham Hill as the only Triple Crown winner in history.

And then Alonso announced Aug. 14 he would retire from F1 after the 2018 season.

All signs pointed to another run at Indy and possibly a full IndyCar Series season in 2019 for one of the most gifted drivers in F1 history.

But a few possible snags sprouted, such as which engine manufacturer would power Alonso’s car. His Andretti Autosport car in 2017 used a Honda, which also powered McLaren that season in F1. But McLaren and Honda had a messy divorce in F1 after 2017, and Alonso was vocal in his dismay over the Japanese powerplant.

So a return to Indy with Andretti – or any Honda-powered team – looked unlikely. And as time passed, it looked tougher and tougher for McLaren to launch an IndyCar or Indy 500-only program and get up to speed with Alonso in 2019.

But as in most things in life, if there’s a will, there’s a way in motorsports. So fans worldwide jumped in anticipation when it was announced Nov. 10 that Alonso would attempt to qualify for the 103rd Indianapolis 500 in May 2019 with a McLaren entry. One of the greatest drivers in F1 history was coming back to “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” along with one of the most evocative teams in the race’s history.

Another important piece to Alonso’s Indy puzzle was revealed Dec. 4 when Chevrolet announced it would power Alonso’s car next May at Indy.

This story features more than just another global icon deciding to take on the challenge of the world’s greatest motor race. It’s a chance for Alonso to make history by completing the Triple Crown. It also will be yet another test of his versatility and car control behind the wheel, as the aero kit with which he will drive in 2019 is massively different from the 2017 car.

Every racing fan hopefully has the same attitude toward Alonso’s return: We can’t wait. Welcome back, Fernando.