[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/fernando-alonsos-race-to-the-triple-crown\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/fernando-alonsos-race-to-the-triple-crown\/","headline":"Fernando Alonso’s Race To The Triple Crown","name":"Fernando Alonso’s Race To The Triple Crown","description":"Can Alonso win the Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans? Only one person in all of motorsport history has completed the legendary Triple Crown, the iconic British driver Graham Hill. Now it looks like McLaren driver Fernando Alonso has his eyes keenly set on the crown and is making it his mission to join Hill in the history books. Requiring the win of Indianapolis 500, 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Monaco Grand Prix, achieving the […]","datePublished":"2018-05-14","dateModified":"2018-05-15","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/2018-Chinese-Grand-Prix-FP3-Fernando-Alonso-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/2018-Chinese-Grand-Prix-FP3-Fernando-Alonso-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/fernando-alonsos-race-to-the-triple-crown\/","about":["LATEST CAR NEWS","MOTORSPORT"],"wordCount":679,"keywords":["f1","grand prix","Indy 500"],"articleBody":"Can Alonso win the Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans?Only one person in all of motorsport history has completed the legendary Triple Crown, the iconic British driver Graham Hill. Now it looks like McLaren driver Fernando Alonso has his eyes keenly set on the crown and is making it his mission to join Hill in the history books. Requiring the win of Indianapolis 500, 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Monaco Grand Prix, achieving the Triple Crown is no small feat and requires a superhuman amount of skill, talent and determination.Fernando Alonso, known as the youngest champion in Formula One history and the man to defeat Schumacher, has made it clear that he has his sights set on the Triple Crown. In an old interview for F1 Racing magazine, Alonso confessed that he had thought about completely ending his grand prix career in order to pursue victories in the Indy 500 and 24 hour Le Mans. Winning these two events is all Alonso needs to earn the honourable title of someone who\u2019s completed the mythic Triple Crown… but it\u2019s much easy said than done.In his interview in early 2017, he said \u201cAfter I did the Indy 500… when I came back there were a couple of races in Austria, Silverstone, when I thought, maybe next year I could try a different series. I could do full commitment to the triple crown and do Indy and Le Mans and maybe that’s the best thing.\u201dHowever, these gushing feelings of the triple crown were soon dampened. Alonso said afterwards:\u00a0“But I felt it was not the time for me to step out – not right now, not after these results, not with this feeling,” he said.“I knew I would regret it for the rest of my life and that I would have this bad taste for the rest of my racing career.“So definitely I still want to succeed. There is unfinished business for me and McLaren together.“And I think this year is the time all these things will change. I feel pretty sure about that.”However, as we all know, Alonso\u2019s 2017 was not particularly spectacular or successful. Perhaps mainly down to the disappointing power unit supplied by Honda, Alonso\u2019s career didn\u2019t see much progress with McLaren last year with him finishing 15th with only 17 points.Fernando Alonso has already had his debut in the Indy 500 last year, and this year he has competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona which he has used as a sort of \u201cstepping stone\u201d to 24 hours of Le Mans. Although it wasn\u2019t a particularly successful race for the spaniard, the event still serves a purpose as a move towards competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.Things are looking good, with McLaren agreeing to release him to compete in 2018\u2019s 24 Hours of Le Mans and he sounds like he\u2019s in the right mindset for the upcoming race:“I have the chance thanks to McLaren to race for the win at Le Mans,” the 36-year-old Alonso said on Tuesday. “It is a big challenge – much can go wrong – but I am ready, prepared and looking forward to the fight.”Although it sounds like his eyes are fixed on earning the monumental Triple Crown, his heart still seems to be with Formula One, which is great for the fans, but it could also be what\u2019s holding him back from giving the Triple Crown attempt his all. Alonso wants the crown, but also understands he still owes his talent to McLaren\u2019s Formula One team.“In no way will this challenge take away from my main target of Formula 1 with McLaren. My aim is to be competitive at every grand prix, and I feel sure that we are closer to achieving that,” said Alonso, who has 32 F1 wins among 97 podium finishes.“My deal to race in WEC was only made possible through the good understanding and strong relationship I have with McLaren.”Do you think the great Fernando Alonso could join Graham Hill in the history books? Let us know!"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Fernando Alonso’s Race To The Triple Crown","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/fernando-alonsos-race-to-the-triple-crown\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]