by H. Mayor – photo: Reuters

Three years of disappointments, a present situation that is the stuff of nightmares and a grid position that makes him totally irrelevant for the big competitions. Under such circumstances there are not many figures with the necessary grit to capture the attention of a whole country (Spain)  over a race which never before had been of any interest there. Fernando Alonso showed everyone at the legendary 500 miles of Indianapolis that he wasn’t there just to make up the numbers or as a mere distraction from his terrible F1 year.  With very little time to prepare, the Spanish rookie was the centre of attention, leading the race during many different stages and in real contention for victory if he hadn’t been forced to retire with 21 laps remaining after an engine fault. A jinx that seems to be following him wherever he goes.

Up until his Honda (yes, Honda again) said no more, the Spanish driver displayed a vibrant and competitive performance, exhibiting technical skill, personality and a good command while his machine responded to the challenge. He was not afraid to yield positions at the start while he acclimatized to the renowned North American oval although he never lost sight of the lead. Steadily, he climbed back places until he took the lead at lap 29. – “He moves like a fish in water” – They said at the ESPN.

His best moments were over after the terrifying accident of poleman Dixon on lap 55 that launched his car into the air and which was followed by a 30 minute halt. Soon after another not so ghastly accident involving Daly this time had the race stopped once more. A new panorama which complicated the strategy and placed new opponents at the lead : Hunter-Reay and old regular Alexander Rossi.

A vibrant race

The race was vibrant. Alonso’s appeal had many new spectators discover the particular magic of the IndyCar oval course where there is never a dull moment. Alonso’s voracious take over of the legend Kanaan was the last great milestone before his engine failed leading to an early retirement at lap 179, so very close to the race’s conclusion.

At that point another Spaniard, Oriol Sarvià, was getting his hands dirty just like other two old F1 regulars; Takuma Sato and Juan Pablo Montoya. The Japanese kept a discreet but firm secondary place during the whole race, giving his winning stroke and making history right at the end. Alonso saw it from the box, with that bitter taste in his mouth that only time will erase. He managed however, to recover the competitiveness sensation and to bring the excitement back to thousands of fans at home. Classifying is not everything, those sensations, as fleeting as they are, have an incommensurable value. It s now back to the F1 nightmare.

Recap video