Jean Alesi dreams of a return to Formula 1
In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, Jean Alesi discussed his preparation for the Indianapolis 500 but mainly expressed his desire to return to the top-tier discipline.
It must be acknowledged that some men have a knack for going against the grain. Asked about his preparation for the 2012 Indianapolis 500, for which he aims to qualify after several years without having sat in a single-seater cockpit, Jean Alesi spoke about the pleasure that driving gives him and also his desire to return to his roots in Formula 1.
« It’s an incredible feeling. It really never leaves us, but when you’re driving a touring car or a stock car, it’s not the same. I’ve driven single-seaters for over fifteen years, and going back to it after such a long break… It’s exhilarating! » he stated. « The car is interesting, I’m discovering it. Driving on an oval is unique, much more challenging than one might imagine. It’s not just going around in circles; it’s much more nuanced than that. There’s no gravel before the walls, for example. »
The confirmation of his participation in the qualifying rounds for the mythical event is still subject to an official announcement, which is expected soon, at Barber, the location of the second round of the 2012 IndyCar Championship. The Avignon native is already looking to the future and is showing at least some ambition: Appetite comes with eating. Participating in the 500 miles is a dream. First, I need to make it happen. But I have the perhaps crazy feeling that I still have my place in Formula 1. […] When I see what Michael is doing, when I see Kimi’s return, Pedro’s return… I’m not 50 years old and physical fitness is not a problem. I’ve already said that I don’t miss F1, but after all, I’m also thinking why not?
Retired from the F1 Circus in 2001, after thirteen seasons where he successively carried the colors of Tyrrell, Ferrari, Benetton, Prost, Sauber, and Jordan, Jean Alesi’s career was mainly marked by bad luck, which, however, left him alone one day in June 1995 when he won, driving a Ferrari, his one and only Grand Prix in the premier category in Canada. His last race, in Suzuka, ended in an impressive collision with Kimi Räikkönen. He then competed for five years in the DTM, where he won five victories, and then in the Speedcar Series. The last high-level appearance of “Jeannot” was at the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving a Ferrari F430 for the AF Corse team. In January 2011, he joined the Lotus group to become one of its ambassadors, before announcing, on the occasion of the Singapore Grand Prix, his intention to race in the Indy 500.
Interviewed about the risks of returning to competition in a championship still mourning last season’s tragedy following Dan Wheldon’s fatal accident, the Frenchman remains determined: In F1, during the race, we always make two or three mistakes. Here, it’s not possible because we’re driving more or less at 400 km/h, even if we lift off a bit in the corners. If you mess up a little, you’ll immediately hit the wall […] What happened in Las Vegas cannot happen at Indy. The banking there is negligible and we never go flat out, except in qualifying. I’m not an expert in the field, but Dallara has reassured me about the safety standards. I’m passionate about and love car racing. When I get into a car, I think about pleasure, only pleasure.
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