Fernando Alonso stunned Formula 1 in 2017 when he skipped the Monaco Grand Prix to take a shot at the Indianapolis 500. The iconic Spanish driver would go on to compete in the race on two separate occasions.
The Indy 500 is amongst the oldest motorsport events on the planet and the 2026 edition is set to take place on Sunday. First staged in 1911, it sees 33 drivers battle it out over a punishing 500 miles, or 200 laps of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The event forms one-third of the unofficial triple crown of motorsport, achieved when a driver claims victory at the Indy 500, the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Nine years ago, Alonso, then driving for the struggling McLaren outfit, chose to miss an F1 race in pursuit of this coveted feat.
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Alonso claimed his first F1 world championship in 2005 with Renault before successfully defending his crown in 2006. He subsequently joined McLaren in 2007, partnering rookie Lewis Hamilton, before departing after just a single season.
View 3 ImagesAlonso has raced in two editions of the Indy 500(Image: Getty)
After spending several years with Ferrari, he made his return to McLaren in 2015, but the car proved woefully uncompetitive, prompting him to seek fresh challenges. In 2017, it was confirmed he would sit out Monaco, a race he had triumphed at in 2006 and 2007, to chase glory at the Indy 500.
“The Indy 500 is one of the most famous races on the global motorsport calendar, rivalled only by the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Monaco Grand Prix,” he said. “It’s of course a regret of mine that I won’t be able to race at Monaco this year.
“But Monaco will be the only 2017 Grand Prix I’ll be missing and I’ll be back in the cockpit of the McLaren-Honda MCL32 for the Canadian Grand Prix. I’ve won the Monaco Grand Prix twice, and it’s one of my ambitions to win the triple crown which has been achieved by only one driver in the history of motorsport: Graham Hill. It’s a tough challenge, but I’m up for it.”
Alonso turned heads as an Indy 500 rookie, lining up on the second row in 5th place and leading for 27 laps. Yet his Honda engine gave out on lap 179, forcing him out of the race.
He reflected afterwards: “It’s true that before coming here some of the questions were how you can trade Monaco for Indy 500. I won two times there, I won two world championships. To drive around Monaco for a sixth place, seventh place. To be here is not possible to compare with that thing. I didn’t miss Monaco.”
View 3 ImagesThe Indy 500 takes place this weekend(Image: Getty)
The Spaniard departed McLaren in 2018 in search of fresh challenges, going on to claim victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on two occasions, including once while still competing in F1.
In 2019, he made a second attempt to qualify for the Indy 500 but was bumped out. He came back the following year and crossed the line in 21st place, leaving his triple crown quest open.
Alonso staged his F1 return in 2021 with Alpine and currently races for Aston Martin, the team he’ll be representing at the forthcoming Canadian Grand Prix, which falls on the very same day as this year’s Indy 500.
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