Hamilton takes swipes at F1 rival Alonso, Indy 500
INDIANAPOLIS Fernando Alonso was on a receiving end of a thinly veiled swipe from Formula One rival Lewis Hamilton as he began his final preparations for Sunday’s Indy 500.
Alonso chose to miss this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix – widely regarded as the highlight of the F1 calendar – for a shot at chasing history. He hopes to triumph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, then complete the trifecta of great motor races by winning the 24 hours of Le Mans later in his career.
However, in an interview with French sports daily L’Equipe, three-time world champion Hamilton appeared to pour scorn on Alonso’s trans-Atlantic jaunt, while casting doubts over the quality of the IndyCar circuit.
“I took a look at the qualifying results,” Hamilton chuckled, according to L’Equipe. “Fernando, in his first qualifying, came fifth. Does that say something about (the level) of Indy Car? Great drivers, if they can’t succeed in Formula One, look for titles in other races, but to see him come fifth against drivers who do this all year round is interesting.”
Alonso has never previously raced on oval tracks but is considered one of F1’s modern greats, having lifted the world championship twice and being rewarded with a $36 million a year contract by McLaren.
Two of Alonso’s career 32 F1 wins have come on Monaco’s glamorous streets. Only one driver in history, Great Britain’s Graham Hill, has completed the threepart trophy haul Alonso has vowed to attempt.
“Indy doesn’t attract my attention and neither does Le Mans, even if I respect them,” Hamilton added.