Last Updated on May 31 2025, 2:53 pm
Fernando Alonso is cast in the old school mode of racing driver who wants to race whenever he can and whatever the racing category. His love for the sport has seen the Spaniard compete in North America’s premier open cockpit single seater series Indycar which includes the fearsome and iconic Indy500 event, during his time away from F1.
Alonso is one of just two current drivers who has completed two of the three challenges which completes motorsport’s elusive triple crown. Only Graham Hill has ever achieved this incredible feat which includes winning the three most prestigious motorsport’s races which are, the 24 hours of Le Mans, the Indy500 and the jewel of the F1 crown in Monaco.
Alonso during his time way from F1 took part in three Indy500 race events, although his only finish was in P21 at his third attempt. The Spaniard was euphoric after completing the 200 laps of the 2.5 mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He described it as “the craziest race of all” and claiming that “this is one of the biggest experiences for a driver. The adrenaline, the danger, the history, speed.”
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Fernando won back to back F1 driver championships with Renault in 2005/06 before over a decade later claiming victory in the world longest top flight endurance race, Le Mans in 2018 and 2019 with Toyota. As if to emphasise how difficult it is to win the triple crown, some nineteen drivers have completed two of the three events required.
In history, there have been nineteen drivers who have competed in all three triple crown events, achieving victory in at least one of the three. Alonso is in the more exclusive group of eight who have won two of the three and is in fine company when considering the other six who are, US racing legend AJ Foyt, Bruce McLaren, Juan Pablo Montoya, Tazio Nuvolari, Jochen Rindt and Maurice Trintignant.
In many ways the most difficult of the three to win is the Indy500 because ova racing requires a specific set of driving skills not present in F1 or the WEC. Further, given the way that cautions interrupt the Indy500, there is an element of luck as to when these race interruptions occur and to whom it benefits in terms of a cheap pit stop for fuel and fresh tyres.
Of the seven drivers above winning two of the three triple crown events, only Pablo Montoya has won Monaco and the Indy500 and AJ Foyt claimed victory in the 24 hours of Le Mans and the Indy500. The other five were victorious at Le Mans and in Monaco, which kind of proved the point that the Indy500 is the one to win.
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Further, in modern times the Indy500 which traditionally races on memorial Day, the last Sunday of May, has clashed with F1’s weekend in Monte Carlo making it tough for drivers to be committed to race in both events over the years.
This year saw a new winner of the Indy500 and the victor is making huge waves in North American single seater racing. Spaniard, Alex Palou, who competed his junior racing in FIA accredited European categories could not find a way into F1 and so moved to the USA and threw his hat into the Indycar ring.
As is usually the case, Palou’s rookie season was with unfancied Dale Coyne Racing in 2020. He was then picked up by front running outfit Chip Ganassi and remarkably won his first Indycar series in his sophomore season. McLaren came calling the following year and the contract shenanigans which resulted appear to distract Palou from the task in hand. He finished just fifth in the drivers’ title race and in part this result was boosted by his win at the final round in Laguna Sec.
Palou came back strong winning the next two championships in prior to this years Indy500 he had won an almost unheard of four of the first races of the 2025 IndyCar season. Now five from six after his win on the most famous oval in the world, Palou is setting records in North America set decades ago.
Alex Palou smashing India ar records
Surprisingly, the Spaniard’s win in Indianapolis was the first for a Spaniard and his very first oval race win in now his sixth season in Indycar. The rate at which he is winning races and titles Alex Palou is quickly becoming one of the greatest drivers in north American single seater racing.
His fourth championship this season will see him just one of six drivers to achieve this, one of whom is Scott Dixon with six championships who is still racing in 2025. Yet the Indycar’s list of greatest drivers appears to have a must box to tick, being a multiple 500 winner. Give the ease with which Palou constructed his victory at the IMS this May, this will be no problem for the rising star in the USA.
Fernando Alonso was effusive in his praise for his countryman this week, describing Palou as “a legend in Indycar” already. “Great for Spain first of all, great for him,” Alonso said. “To have the Indy 500 now after winning the series in IndyCar for a few consecutive seasons, and now leading the championship as well. So he’s doing great there.
“I know most of the drivers would dream about a Formula 1 seat and having a career here, but he had the opportunity in IndyCar and he maximised every single day there.and Carlos Sainz have recognised their countryman’s achievements.
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“He’s a legend in IndyCar and he will always be a legend in IndyCar, so I think he’s not missing Formula 1 and I’m very happy for him because he’s a very, very talented driver.”
Carlos Sainz too is exuberant in his praise of Palou. “I think someone that is capable of winning in Indy, winning the Indy 500, at least he should be given the chance to show what he can do in Formula 1 at some point,” Sainz said. “And if he’s quick enough in Formula 1, then he should be welcome in Formula 1.
“I think he got to test the McLaren car a few times. I always rated Alex very highly because I was his teammate in cadet karting and he was very quick! But honestly speaking, what he’s doing in America is something really admirable.
“I think to dominate [IndyCar] the way he’s dominating, you have to be very good. Formula 1 is a completely different discipline, different world, but I don’t have anything else than respect and admiration for what Alex is doing in Indy.”
Palou unlikely to race F1
Interestingly, Alonso did not call for Palou to be given his chance in Formula One and probably because having raced in Indycar he understands the young Spaniard could be the greatest of all time in US racing history. Once he claims his fourth title race this year, he will be just three away from matching there revered AJ Foyt with seven. If Palou aged 28 were to try his hand at F1, it would need to be in the next couple of years with a top team, something which would conflict with his Indycar records.
Further in Indycar wining the 500 is as important as winning a championship. Palou will need to rack up another two 500’s at least along with the championships on offer then he could easily be considered one of the top three of all time ever to race in north America’s premiers insole seater racing series.
Palou could easily take a tilt at the Le Mans 24 hours race later in his career, although for now the days of two teams dominating the premier class of endurance racing making this less difficult, are long gone. The triple crown of motorsport is far tougher to win in modern times than when Hill achieved the feat back in 1972, but with the most difficult of the three under his belt, Alex Palou could set his sights on the grand helm so treasured by his fellow Spanish race, Fernando Alonso.
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The 2025 Formula One season is hitting its stride as the travelling circus rolls into Barcelona for another high-stakes weekend. Early momentum had McLaren looking unstoppable, with many already awarding them this year’s title. In the Constructors’ Championship, an unprecedented collapse — arguably the biggest downfall in F1 history — would now be required for anyone else to snatch the title from their grasp. However, as the spotlight on flexi-wing regulations intensifies, McLaren’s silence on their true impact is beginning to raise questions.
Yet Red Bull have been clear almost since the off in Melbourne that their goal this season is to land their star driver a record equaling fifth consecutive drivers’ title. This is something Lewis Hamilton never achieved given he was hi-jacked inn this mission by his team mate bio Rosberg in 2016.
Only Michael Schumacher at Ferrari has achieved this incredibly difficult feat and it could be argued Schumacher had a more dominant car during his run of titles between 2000-2004 than has Verstappen. Red Bull Racing appear to have accepted they are unable to field a second driver to the world champion who is capable of doing what Hamilton and Antonelli are delivering, which is collecting decent points when compared to the lead driver in the team… READ MORE
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
