Virtuoso: Fernando Alonso

Words: Robby Pacicco / Photos: Stefano Facchin

 

The ability to play any one particular musical instrument very well requires countless hours of practice, determination and focus.  Hours turn into days and weeks turn into years.  Being able to play multiple instruments extremely well is almost godlike.  Such deities do exist and we needn’t look far from the metaphorical playlist.  David Bowie, Prince, Dave Grohl and Paul McCartney are just to name a few.  We might as well include the name of Spanish two time Formula 1 Champion Fernando Alonso among that list.  No, he is not secretly the world’s best Flamenco guitarist or classical pianist (not that we are aware of).  Fernando Alonso is one of the greatest racing drivers to have ever laced up a pair of race boots.  Currently driving for the famed British outfit McLaren in F1, his goal seems to be on winning everywhere.  Infuriatingly, he hasn’t been able to do much of that recently due to reliability issues from the machine he has been piloting.  The man known as the Samurai of Spain has a flaming sword ready to wield on any race track with any instrument of speed.

 

 

 

 

Having entered the global stage of motorsport with Minardi in 2001, he soon joined Renault where he would win the 2005 and 2006 Driver’s Championship.  Eventually having stints with McLaren, a return to Renault, Ferrari and then back to McLaren.  His most recent time with McLaren though appearing as a flop mostly in part due to the Honda engine positioned behind his seat, it’s proving to be quite the adventure.  Having been extremely vocal about his frustrations with the car’s poor performance and inability to cross the finish line consistently, he turned his gaze to the famed Indy 500 receiving the full support of his team.  In 2017 the motorsport world went wild with adulation for his decision and the 101^st running of the Indianapolis 500 had now become the center of the universe.  Although, this would not be the first time a Formula 1 driver would cross the dimensional plain and compete the Indy 500.  Truckloads of F1 drivers have come before him.  In fact, the previous winner for the 100^th running of the Indy 500 was none other than Alexander Rossi, having tested and competed in F1.  Fernando Alonso took the world by storm as the focus turned to how would he place against seasoned Indy 500 veterans like Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, and Helio Castroneves.  The media circus was exactly that, a circus.  The event itself has no shortage of superstar talent but to add another from a different category to the mix was a dream come true for promoters and journalists.  Enrique Iglesias joining Aerosmith might have done the same surely but he’s not, last we checked.  Joining forces with McLaren Honda Andretti in the United States to race the historic event meant he would require abandoning his chance to compete in the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix; held the same weekend and being the crown jewel event of his full time job.  

 

 

 

The big race weekend came and went but the storyline never simmered down.  Fernando Alonso impressed everyone with his incredible performance having been a front runner for a majority of the race including having led 27 laps.  With only 21 of the 200 laps remaining, Alonso in seventh place seemed destined to win the Indy 500 for 2017 as he had been gaining position after position.  In case you still don’t know the results of the 101^st Indianapolis 500 or haven’t gotten around to watching it on your DVR, spoiler alert, it was won by a Formula 1 driver. No, not Fernando.  Actually a former F1 driver, Takumo Sato.  Alonso’s car experienced a catastrophic engine failure bringing his once charging bright orange car to a halt.  Having taken the Rookie of the Year award due to his incredible performance, it seemed a fitting consolation prize.  Despite not having tasted victory that day and drinking the traditional bottle of milk that is given to the victor of the 500, Alonso jokingly opened a small carton of milk after having addressed the media and back to Formula 1 he went.

 

 

With rumors circulating for years that the Spaniard would one day  compete the grueling 24hrs of Le Mans in France, it seemed a mere matter of time before that announcement would come.  We’re not there yet, instead it has been confirmed that Fernando will be participating in the equally entertaining, prestigious and unforgiving 24hrs of Daytona for 2018.  The announcement of his participation includes him partnering up with Lando Norris and Phil Hanson in a Ligier for United Autosports.  This will be Fernando Alonso’s first endurance race and an obvious measuring stick for Le Mans.  Unlike Axl Rose who had to temporarily replace Brian Johnson as the AC/DC frontman and learn how to sing a whole new catalog of songs, Fernando basically has to learn a new instrument as well upon joining a new band.  This is not to discredit Rose since he did a fine job as interim lead singer for the Australian rock legends while their auto enthusiast and sometimes race driver regular, Johnson was on the sidelines with a health issue. 

 

 

Time will tell how well Fernando will do at Daytona and the fans and media frenzy wait, drooling.  A talent of his caliber can never be counted out, no matter how strong or weak his car is on any track.  Alonso has proven time and time again how passionate he is behind the wheel as well as how his incredible skills keep putting his name amongst the greats.  With his Formula 1 career still in full swing and experimenting with other series, the bar he is setting for anyone coming after him is evidentially high.  With plenty of racing left in him and with no evident signs of wanting to slow down, Nando will rock every opportunity possible until that sad day he hangs up the helmet.  With that said, the famous words sung by a former 24hrs of Daytona participant Brian Johnson could not be any more perfect… for those about to rock, we salute you, Fernando.