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Lewis Hamilton has scoffed at the level of competition that Fernando Alonso is facing the Indy 500, which takes place this weekend after the Monaco Grand Prix.
Last month, Alonso announced that he would not play a part at the Monaco Grand Prix, as he would instead be heading to the US in search of winning the Triple Crown of Motorsport. With one leg out of the way (victory at Monaco), his latest challenge is the Indy 500.
The Spaniard qualified fifth last Sunday, drawing praise from all round. However, Hamilton has scoffed at the other racers in Indycar, questioning the level of their abilities.
"I looked at the times and, frankly, for his first ever qualifying for Fernando to be fifth -- what does that say about Indy?" the Mercedes driver told France's L'Equipe.
"He's a great driver, if he cannot win in Formula 1, will look for other races to win," said the Briton, before smiling. "But to see him fifth against drivers who are there all year is ... interesting."
Fergal Walsh
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Replies (7)
Login to replyyellowfly81
Posts: 79
IndyCar - and the 500 - definitely don't seem like they're for the faint-hearted, so I definitely wouldn't judge any of the other drivers as they evidently have all the stamina and speed to perform there.
fzrniko
Posts: 11
Says the dude who was totally embarrassed by his Finnish teammate at Monaco, who hadn't won nothing before joining Mercedes, and was beaten last year by an "also-ran" F1 driver. Just like the snobby europeans. He should put up or shut up. Pretentious bastard.
fzrniko
Posts: 11
There's a "bloke" named Jack Harvey in the Indy 500 field this year, who has raced and beaten Carlos Sainz in three different categories of racing. So, yeah, there's that.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Hamilton sort of has a point. While the drivers in Indy probably are very good, its a bit odd for Alonso to never have driven it before, and just get in there and get to 5th on the grid just like that.
fzrniko
Posts: 11
Hamilton is a tool. Its not like its that hard to drive in circles. the hard part is when it comes to the actual race, trying to pass, and setting up the finish. Anyone can be fast at Indy. F1 aint much different. Gary paffet went as fast as others during post-Bahrain test. he aint but a DTM driver. According to Hamiltoe and you, he shoulds sucked eggs.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Im honestly not very fond of Hamilton either, and of course the race is harder, it always is. But you have to admit that its a bit odd how Alonso can go in, starting from zero in this specific series, and get all the way up to P5. I certainly did not expect him to get in and get into the top 5. Werhlein did not go into F1 and excelled from the start when he went over from DTM, nor did Björn Wirdheim when he first went to Super GT. Paffet has test driven F1 cars before, whereas Alonso hasnt driven an Indycar before. I'd say Vandoorne would be a better example of an exception, since he basically went from nil to a race and performed well in the quali and the race (if I recall correctly he had not had much time with F1 cars before that one race last year). Generally speaking, when trying a new series, it takes time to get on par with the rest, sometimes it doesnt, but mostly it does. It doesnt necessarily say the Indy drivers are bad, it could also mean Alonso is just that good.
Bhurt
Posts: 320
I'm pretty sure Hamilton is just talking out of his arse to draw attention away from the fact that he's performing like an Indy driver himself lately.