USA TODAY International Edition
Alonso shows his driving brilliance despite exiting 20 laps from 500’ s end
Fernando Alonso knew it would create some waves, this leap into the unknown, searching for instant mastery of Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s curved mysteries.
He didn’t care much, didn’t allow himself to fluster for a moment at the pit lane whispers that it was a fool’s errand, a heavy horsepower ego trip, an unwelcome excursion that would amount to nothing. Or so they thought. He knew that for each of those intrigued by his self- designed loan from Formula One to IndyCar for a one- time shot at Indianapolis 500 glory there would be several others wishing him to falter and crumble and become another victim of the Brickyard’s cruel clutches.
On Sunday, the Spanish driving master, one of F1’ s modern greats and even better than his two world championships suggest, held a proverbial finger to his lips as he went on a mission of discovery.
Yes, his afternoon ended 20 laps earlier than he hoped it would, a sudden malfunction taking him out just as the race was gearing up to a thrilling finish with Alonso still in with a shot in seventh place.
“It is a shame,” Alonso told ESPN. “I think we deserved to finish the race at least. Who knows where we could have finished?”
It wasn’t the triumph he so dearly craved, but it was a triumph nevertheless. It didn’t take him to the brink of motor racing’s Triple Crown of the Monaco Grand Prix, Indy and the 24 Hours of Le Mans race that he plans to run later in his career.
And yet his spectacular run, filled with flashes of brilliance and cemented in raw grit, was for so long the story line of the afternoon.
He was never content to sit and watch and play track position, starting in fifth, getting bumped quickly to ninth, then working his way forward at a screaming pace and busily making the most of the muscular vehicle the Andretti team had provided for him.
It was captivating stuff. Alonso expected no favor and gave none, figuring out the shifting wind flow, pouncing on the shoulders of rivals using a mix of old school Indy tricks and adding a couple of maneuvers of his own. Surrounded and hounded by a posse of North American racing’s most hardened contenders, Alonso had to figure out Indy’s puzzles on the fly.
Soon after the first round of pit stops he was in the lead. Perhaps it should have been a shock. For all of his expertise, this was still the first time Alonso had raced on an oval. A look at the power figures in his pit told a story of its own. There was no surprise there, no jubilation.
“The racing was fun,” Alonso added. “We were up there leading the race, and on the red flag we were leading. It was a very nice surprise to come here with these big guys and be competitive.”
Over the last few weeks and months, members of the Andretti team have grown accustomed to Alonso, discovered the edge that etched him as one of F1’ s modern greats, sensed his hunger, accepted his brilliance.
They had come to expect him getting into contention and greeted it simply with nods of the head and jaws set in determination.
And so it went on, with every passing lap Alonso looking more like he belonged here, even if the public messages of welcome from his fellow racers in the build- up might have been uttered through gritted teeth.
IndyCar racers are for the most part a cheery, smiley, positive bunch who understand the benefit in projecting an upbeat image for public consumption. In truth, though, there were plenty in pit lane seriously irked by Alonso’s seek and conquer mission, feeling there could be no benefit to the series and its current incumbents.
Graham Rahal was one of few who said so publicly, but the perception was that if Alonso came here and shined, with no experience in Indy cars and precisely zero on ovals of any description, it would make the IndyCar series look second rate.
It was the opposite. Alonso’s ride was the steepest of all lessons, and rather than diminishing from this great race, it only added to it.
It showed that driving brilliance is transportable. Give a great racer a great car, and magical things can happen. Throw a new wild card into a contest that is always unpredictable, and you can barely tear your eyes away from it.
Alonso didn’t get to drink the milk, his competitive thirst instead having to be satisfied by the adulation of a standing ovation from more than 300,000 people.
Even for the ultimate competitor who cherishes nothing more than the top of the podium, that had to count as a win.