Tuesday’s declaration that Fernando Alonso will retire from Formula 1 at the end of the 2018 season left speculation running wild regarding his future plans. The Verizon IndyCar Series did not hesitate to extend an invitation to the two-time world champion.
“Today’s announcement certainly has fueled excitement among INDYCAR fans who hope that Alonso will compete throughout the championship in 2019,” President and CEO of IndyCar-owning Hulman & Company Mark Miles said in a statement. He went on to detail the series’ support of McLaren in their efforts to field an IndyCar team.
“McLaren is working to put all the necessary arrangements in place, and we are supporting their efforts. I don’t expect this to be resolved until closer to the end of this year.”
Alonso’s surprise run in the 2017 Indianapolis 500 was met with much fanfare and culminated in Indy 500 Rookie of the Year honours for the Spaniard. Broadening his horizons in recent seasons, Alonso has also competed in IMSA’s Rolex 24 at Daytona and winning the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans.
To complete the triple crown, Alonso still needs to win the Indy 500.
"Today, I have some other, bigger challenges than those [Formula 1] can offer me,” Alonso said in a retirement video posted to his Twitter on Tuesday as he stood in front of his IMSA fire suit and Indy 500 helmet.
The competition he would face in the Verizon IndyCar Series vouch for him as much as the series himself. Ryan Hunter-Reay competed alongside Alonso at the Indy 500 for Andretti Autosport, and witnessed his passion first-hand.
“It would be appealing to me, if I were him,” Hunter-Reay said in a teleconference. “I spent time with him as his teammate. He's as hungry as ever to win. I think IndyCar is a great spot.”
The move would would largely be considered mutually beneficial for the upward building Verizon IndyCar Series, and the eager-to-win Alonso.
“Obviously, that would be fantastic for the series,” Will Power told the TSN Racing Pod in June. “I think that he would really enjoy the racing. The series he is in right now, it absolutely depends on the team you’re in. He runs week in, week out to be somewhere maybe in the top 10.”
“He’s a racer’s racer. I think he would really love the diversity of tracks and style of racing. I really hope he comes, I think that would be fantastic.”
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