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This is the discussion thread for a recent post on GTPlanet:
This article was published by Michael Leary (@Terronium-12) on August 14th, 2018 in the Formula One category.
Cool. Frees him up to race in the Bathurst 1000.
Alonso and another driver in their own car for all three Enduro events, would be epic.The Indycar calendar doesn't clash with Bathurst, does it?
Alonso in WAU wildcard (or any supercar team for that matter) would be a dream.
All our heroes are leaving and this new mob isnt the same, except for Daniel.
I'll say it again:
Even with two world championships, even with his mercurial personality in wanting a team built around him, even with the intra-team problems he has been through, I still say that Fernando Alonso has suffered the greatest misuse of talent in the history of Formula one.
/I will not be reading the replies to this post.
Except from Verstappen the other guys are "boring". They lack in personality. Guys like Verstappen, Ricciardo, Schumacher, Vettel, Hamilton, Alonso, Senna, they all have something in common: They are ruthless on track and show personality, passion and enthusiasm. When thinking about all these young guys, I see just some PR brainwashed "Yes-sayers". Sure, they are fast (Leclerc, Noris, Russle) but they are not exciting.Vestappen, Leclerc, Noris, Russle... F1's future is very bright indeed.
Except from Verstappen the other guys are "boring". They lack in personality. Guys like Verstappen, Verstappen, Schumacher, Vettel, Hamilton, Alonso, Senna, they all have something in common: They are ruthless on track and show personality. When thinking about all these young guys, I see just some PR brainwashed "Yes-sayers". Sure, they are fast (Leclerc, Noris, Russle) but they are not exciting.
What I don't mean that they are talentless or bad people. I just find them not really exciting.
So, yeah. I was never a fan of Alonso but he was/is very fast and he has personality, a soul if you want. And his team radios are legendary. I'll miss him.
An in-depth look at Fernando's Indy car prospects. Honda: not on good terms. Roger Penske (Chevrolet): "Not interested at this time".
https://racer.com/2018/08/14/insight-what-are-alonsos-indycar-options/
But there could be one major hang-up. Honda Japan is reportedly not pleased with the criticism of its F1 engine that McLaren dished out in 2016 and 2017, and was not keen to offer any financial support or engines.
Andretti is one of Honda’s big guns – they’ve four won of the last six Indy 500s – they’re under contract for at least one more year, and its unlikely Honda would let him out of his deal.
Of all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these: "It might have been."Alonso being one of the most vocal about the quality of the Honda engine. This is another good example of why Alonso is his own worst enemy and why after McLaren in 2007, never really got into a championship winning car again.
Guys like Verstappen, Ricciardo, Schumacher, Vettel, Hamilton, Alonso, Senna, they all have something in common: They are ruthless on track and show personality, passion and enthusiasm.
Of all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these: "It might have been."
Maybe we need a list of all-time F1 sob stories. I nominate Stirling Moss.
Well, IMHO, Vettel is not even a pimple on Fernando's ass. Seb needs a super-diffuser to stay on track.To be fair, I think Ferrari might be thinking the same. If this season continues on the path it has then that'll have been two years when Ferrari have produced (at times) the best car on the grid and not won the title. With Alonso, could it have been different?
While I appreciate that someone took the time to look at the situation from many angles, I would say that's far from conclusive. At this point, nearly everything is speculation with the possible exception of Penske, since he came right out and said he was not interested. However, "at this time" allows him an out.An in-depth look at Fernando's Indy car prospects. Honda: not on good terms. Roger Penske (Chevrolet): "Not interested at this time".
https://racer.com/2018/08/14/insight-what-are-alonsos-indycar-options/
While I appreciate that someone took the time to look at the situation from many angles, I would say that's far from conclusive. At this point, nearly everything is speculation with the possible exception of Penske, since he came right out and said he was not interested. However, "at this time" allows him an out.
I believe if Fernando wants to race in IndyCar, he will race in IndyCar. For the simple reason that he has leverage.
This is a series that certainly has emerged from the ashes of the dark days of the split and the ultimate failure of ChampCar. But it's far from what it was going in, and there's tremendous potential to market to a broader, global audience. Not to mention that NASCAR is vulnerable now, for a variety of reasons, mainly self inflicted. There are eyeballs to be gained, and this is a driver who would make a significant and immediate impact.
They have the new TV contract with NBC next year, with 8 races to be broadcast on their free to air network (up from 5). They are still on the lookout for a replacement title sponsor, as far as we know. If you're the people in charge of those decisions and marketing the series, you will want Alonso.
That same article you linked to mentioned Zack Brown talking to Chevrolet in Detroit. There's nothing to prevent McLaren from running a car with a Chevrolet engine. And the series itself may very well work to influence Honda based on the benefit his arrival would provide.
With his other sportscar commitments, it may not happen this year. But I would certainly not rule it out.