Fernando Alonso’s name atop IMS Scoring pylon. (The
Tomaso Collection)
Fernando Who!
Was gonna scribble about my waning desire to
continue following Formula 1 via television today, but I’ll let that simmer a
little longer…
Nope, like many, this year’s lack of Bumping at
Mother Speedway’s upon my mind. As I could go thru what’s already been covered
extensively over the recent lack of entries since 2020. Or going back even
further to 2016, when the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 only had 33
entries, reportedly…
While we all know about Colton Herta’s fourth
Andretti Global entry being scrubbed due to Formula One’s brilliant idea to
race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve the same day, Spew!
It seemingly comes down to the financial plight
of the current economy. Although there are reportedly drivers with the
necessary budget for a “One-off” entry at Mother Speedway.
While I’m not a fan of Honda’s unwillingness to
grant its fourth Andretti Global engine lease to an Indy only entry. And I’m
not sure how it helps them publicly? But perhaps due to Honda having just
suffered its first ever earnings loss since the 1970’s, Honda’s suddenly
pinching pennies?
And what about all of the Young Guns wishing to
race in IndyCar these days? With the likes of Linus Lundqvist, Hunter McElrae,
Toby sowery, Juri Vips and others. Not to mention Callum Ilott, Katherine
Legge, Stefan Wilson and Devlin DeFrancesco for starters…
Nope, the saddest part of all is that we as
Fans live by the credo of it being the fastest 33 Cars in the field and revel
over the uncertainty of somebody going “Home” utterly disappointed. Even if its
only one single driver and team. The sheer “Spectacle” of those vying for the
final grid spot is typically Herculean! And for Mwah, Bump Day’s Last Row
Shootout is always far more thrilling than the Pole shootout.
As one needs only look back to 2019, when the
Minnowesqe Junco Racing and Kyle Kiser in a “Frankenstein” car Bumped Two-times
Formula 1 World champion Fernando Alonso from that year’s Indianapolis 500!
Meanwhile, and it cannot just be Mwah. But “Isn’t
It Ironic?” That with the 25 current IndyCar Charters being assured of making
the field. We’re suddenly back to that Good, ‘Ol 25-8 rule.
As Shame On You IndyCar! As this is what the
whole spirit of the Indianapolis 500 is supposed to represent…
Incredible radio from Kyle Kiser after Bumping Fernando Alonso from the 2019 Indianapolis 500
