Fernando Alonso: Daytona 24 Hours fan access unthinkable in F1
Fernando Alonso believes the access that fans have to the cars and drivers at the Daytona 24 Hours would be "unthinkable" in Formula 1
The two-time F1 world champion is preparing to contest the season-opening IMSA SportsCar Championship round for the second year in a row.
It kicks off Alonso's first year away from grand prix racing, and the Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac driver - who was 38th last year in a United Autosports Ligier LMP2 after various problems - said he enjoys the alternative atmosphere.
"There were a lot of good moments last year and already this year a couple of kids were even jumping in the car at one point!,' said Alonso.
"They get really close to the teams, to the drivers, to the cars. They can even touch the car if they want.
"It's just something unthinkable in Formula 1 or racing in Europe, so I think that's the nice part of this atmosphere and this race.
"I know it will be even bigger with all the fans here and how close they are on pitlane as well.
"When you jump in the car, you're still signing autographs and taking pictures even with the helmet on, waiting for the car to come to pit lane.
"Sometimes you need to tell them you are in a critical moment and you should be ready to jump in.
"But at same time if you embrace that and enjoy that, it is a very nice event and very nice emotion to see all the passion from the fans when they see the cars.''
It is not the first time Alonso has drawn parallels with the experience fans have at other major championships compared to F1.
The Spaniard is also contesting the World Endurance Championship with Toyota and said at last year's Spa opener, his first WEC round, that drivers would "hide even more" if F1 had the same amount of fan access.
At Daytona, Alonso is sharing his Cadillac DPi-V.R with fellow ex-F1 driver and current Toyota WEC team-mate Kamui Kobayashi, as well as WTR's full-season drivers Jordan Taylor and Renger van der Zande.
Alonso says his expectations are higher for 2019, although he stopped short of predicting a win with the team-car combo that won Daytona and the IMSA title in '17.
"I definitely feel I am in a much better position this year compared to last year,'' said Alonso.
"Last year, this was my first US sportscar race and my first closed-cockpit experience and definitely this year, I'm ready to enjoy it a bit more and use the experience of my first WEC season as well.
"Everything is much more open than racing in Europe. The target this year is definitely to be more competitive on the track and I'm happy."
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Long Beach IndyCar race scrapped due to coronavirus
St Petersburg IndyCar opener to go ahead behind closed doors
How Penske pulled off the blockbuster IndyCar purchase
Alonso explains mid-race soft tyre strategy in F1 Chinese GP
Alonso: Aston Martin F1 should not apologise for being “too fast” in qualifying
Suzuka sensation redeemed Alonso, but his F1 future is complicated
The monstrous Capri born from 40 Light years of work
Penske's Newgarden loses St. Pete IndyCar race win after violation
Obituary: Successful tin-top racer and Demon Tweeks founder Alan Minshaw dies aged 88
Ricciardo felt "rapid" before Stroll F1 clash in China
How canny Porsche strategy snatched Daytona spoils from Cadillac
How a battle of two US titans will grip IMSA in 2024
How IMSA's GTP revival proved worthy of its name
How Porsche's Daytona hiccups evoked the premiere of its Group C king
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments