Today is perhaps one of the most heavily anticipated days on the 2017 Motorsports calendar.
It’s Wednesday May 3rd, 2017 .
At 9:30 am EST today ,the two time Formula 1 World Champion, Fernando Alonso, will perform his Indy Car Rookie Orientation Test… and EVERYONE is watching.
Alonso’s last win in F1 was back in 2013, as a driver Ferrari. With hopes of a faster car, he moved to the Honda powered team of McLaren in 2015. His career has languished ever since. The McLaren team has not been competitive and has struggled to compete on the track. Honda Racing is bewildered and can not resolve their reliability issues. Pictures of Fernando Alonso walking away from a failed McLaren F1 car have become the banter of every internet satirist. Alonso has not been having much fun in Formula 1 lately.
Formula 1 drivers have limited options regarding their time away from their teams. The previous F1 boss Bernie Eccelstone ran the sport with an iron fist. F1 fans are pretty much in agreement that Bernie Eccelstone ruined the sport in the past 10 years. Bernie raised F1 to an extremely exclusive club of owners and drivers. Bernie Eccelstone’s perceived public image of being an arrogant SOB has been confirmed by the new F1 management team. Bernie is on record for criticizing the new F1 boss Chase Carey as “caring about fans”…
Eccelstone ran F1 with an almost sadistic tone for his aristocratic incompetence. Last we heard from this cranky bastard is that he’s interested in purchasing and reviving the Interlagos circuit in Rio de Janeiro. Good riddance….
Formula 1 has entered a new age. And with it a new approach. Once again attention is paid to the things that really mater, like having fun.
But it took a perfect storm of events to create the circumstances which put Alonso in that Honda powered Indy car today… Honda’s dismal failure in formula 1 certainly has attributed to today’s events.
It was just two days ago in Sochi Russa where Alonso recorded yet another DNS (did not start) on his career totals. His Honda powered McLaren failed before the race even started. Fernando watched the race from the pit box, eating ice cream while reading the headlines from his daily copy of the Indianapolis Star… Honda’s
Zak Brown’s recent appointment as the head of McLaren F1 was the third platonic alignment to create this opportunity for Alonso. Few pundit’s believe that the former McLaren boss Ron Dennis would have ever allowed this opportunity to happen.
But like Eccelstone, the old thinking of Dennis is also out the door. McLaren is a willing participant in the 101st running of the Indy 500. Not only does McLaren support Alonso’s run for the Indy 500, but they are considering the possibility of fielding a team. Zak Brown has brought a new attitude to McLaren, and with it new opportunities. A lot more Americans are hearing the name McLaren, that’s for sure.
And then there is the unsung hero… Stefan Wilson.
Fernando Alonso is very late in the game with his entry into the Indy 500. Alonso will drive a car that Michael Shank Racing prepared for Stefan Wilson. As Autosport puts it, the car is “well sponsored”, which means they’ve got plenty of money. Throw in Alonso and it’s a race to the bank.
But is was Stefan Wilson who decided to step back……
It is not often in one’s life that McLaren F1, Honda Racing, Andretti Motorsport and Fernando Alonso ask you “for a favor”.
Quite frankly, I believe Stefan deserves a test with McLaren, at least the consideration. it is what every open wheel driver aspires for… well that and the Indy 500. That will be a topic for another day. But it is an absolutely critical part of the story which cannot be dismissed in today’s and future coverage.
But as to Alonso…. this incredible to watch. It is his jump to Indy Car which is so encouraging for the future of Formula 1. We are seeing formula ! open up to new ideas, new opportunities, new visions….. and FINALLY a return to it’s recognition of Indy Car, the fans, the drivers and how much fun it can all be.
Thank you Liberty Media
Thank you Chase Carey
Thank You Zak Brown
Thank you Marco Andretti
Thank You Mario Andretti
Thank you Michael Shank Racing
Thank you Stefan Wilson
Thank you Jensen Button
Thank you Fernando Alonso…..
It is a Wednesday morning on the east coast of the US and we all are excited about an Indy “Rookie Orientation Test”….
when’s the last time that happened?
Good Luck Fernando… The world will be watching!
- note – I had to publish this without editing….. gotta get to work. Please forgive typos