If you had to pick a driver to represent Formula One at the Indy 500 it would be Fernando Alonso. Intelligent, determined and above all fast, Alonso has what it takes to adapt to a completely new car in a limited timeframe and be competitive. What's more his mighty talents are currently being wasted in F1 at the wheel of an uncompetitive McLaren-Honda, which is so far off the pace that even a top ten finish is viewed as an extraordinary achievement.
But that's not to underestimate the task Alonso faces. Even with the extra practice ahead of the Indy 500 -- including the Rookie Orientation Program that Alonso will qualify for -- he is going to be on the back foot. But his ability to adapt to whatever car he finds himself in is what makes him such a revered driver. Throughout his career he has made a habit of racing Formula One cars in positions way above their potential and he will relish the challenge of defying the odds to challenge for a second rookie win in as many years for Andretti Autosport at Indy.
One obvious question is whether Alonso's driving style will suit oval racing. Years of driving in Formula One on a combination of street and race circuits, means he has no meaningful experience of oval racing. Yet one of his biggest strengths in F1 has been the way in which he adapts to whatever the four corners of his car are telling him. It's the main reason why he has been able to secure such good results in cars with such obvious vices over recent years.
A few years ago ESPN asked one of Alonso's engineers from his championship-winning years at Renault what made the Spaniard so good.
"Fernando was incredibly impressive in the car and it was not only for one lap, it was time and time again," he said. "When Fernando drove for us in 2003 and 2004 he was incredibly hard on his front tyres and that's how he got the most out of them. So when the FIA brought in a single-race tyre in 2005, I remember thinking 'how is he going to cope with it?' But he completely changed his driving style like it didn't matter and just got on with it. That's the sign of a champion, they instinctively know what needs to be done and it wasn't ever a problem for him."
But even in a year in which McLaren is hopelessly uncompetitive, giving up a drive at the Monaco Grand Prix is still a big decision to make. Aside from all the sponsor agreements and fanfare that go with the biggest race on the F1 calendar, it also looks likely to be McLaren's best chance of a good result in the first half of the year. The Honda engine's power deficit won't be so detrimental on the twisty streets of Monaco, making it one of the few circuits where Alonso's driving talent could see the McLaren punch well above its weight.
But with 2009 world champion Jenson Button on a contract to replace McLaren's current drivers should they be unable to race, the team appears to have a solid pair of hands (and a good news story) to act as Alonso's replacement. Realistically the team is unlikely to better last year's fifth place result, and for Alonso, a two-time winner at Monaco, fifth place finishes -- no matter how heroic -- don't count for much anymore. On the other hand, a disappointing weekend for McLaren in Monaco would be completely overshadowed a few hours later by the good news story of its name returning to the track at the Indy 500 after a 38-year absence.
All of which makes Alonso a perfect candidate for the challenge that lies ahead. His ultimate goal is to follow in the footsteps of Graham Hill and win motorsport's Triple Crown: the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Such an achievement has long been considered unlikely in the current era of restrictive driver contracts, clashing race calendars and differing driving disciplines, but if anyone can do it, it's Alonso.