Fernando Alonso
FILE - In this file photo dated Sunday, May 19, 2019, Fernando Alonso, of Spain, prepares to drive during qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in Indianapolis, Ind. Fernando Alonso feels far better about his chances to close out motorsports' version of the Triple Crown in 2020. The Spaniard will race for Arrow McLaren SP in the Indianapolis 500 in May and believes the organization is prepared. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Alonso confident in team prep for another Indy 500 attempt

By Jenna Fryer 20 hrs ago

FILE - In this May 24, 2020, file photo, Indianapolis Motor Speedway sits empty in Indianapolis. Roger Penske has reversed course and decided not to allow fans at the Indianapolis 500 later this month. The 104th running of “The Great American Race” will be the first without spectators, who showed up at Indianapolis Motor Speedway every year, even during the Great Depression. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Column: 'Greatest spectacle' goes on even in a pandemic

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 10, 2020 03:46 PM EDT

Mechanics push the car of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen as they practice tires change at the Red Bull Ring racetrack in Spielberg, Austria, Thursday, July 9, 2020. Styrian Formula One Grand Prix will be held on Sunday. (AP photo/Darko Bandic)
Vettel opens door for return to Red Bull in F1 next season

By Jerome Pugmire Jul. 09, 2020 12:27 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 24, 2019, file photo, IndyCar driver Fernando Alonso, of Spain, drives out of the pit area during testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Alonso will once again attempt to complete motorsports' version of the Triple Crown with a return to the Indianapolis 500 in May with McLaren. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Age no barrier to Alonso as he expects a strong return to F1

By Jerome Pugmire Jul. 08, 2020 07:32 AM EDT

Ferrari technicians pause as they work on Sebastian Vettel's car the at the Red Bull Ring racetrack in Spielberg in Spielberg, Austria, Thursday, July 2, 2020. Austrian Formula One Grand Prix will be held on Sunday. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Vettel could walk away from F1 for good without right offer

By Jerome Pugmire Jul. 02, 2020 12:23 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015 file photo, Alex Zanardi, of Italy, rides during the cycling portion of the Ironman World Championship Triathlon, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Race car driver turned Paralympic champion Alex Zanardi has been seriously injured again. Police tell The Associated Press that Zanardi was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Siena following a road accident near the Tuscan town of Pienza during a national race for Paralympic athletes on handbikes. The 53-year-old Zanardi had both of his legs amputated following a horrific crash during a 2001 CART race in Germany. He was a two-time CART champion. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Alex Zanardi has 3-hour head surgery after handbike crash

By Andrew Dampf Jun. 19, 2020 12:27 PM EDT

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany poses for a photo at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne, Thursday, March 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Where next for Vettel and who will replace him at Ferrari?

By Jerome Pugmire May. 12, 2020 01:44 PM EDT

In this picture taken March 12, 2020 Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany poses for a photo at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne. Four-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel will leave Ferrari at the end of the year, the Italian team said Tuesday, May 12, 2020. Ferrari said the decision was by mutual consent. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Vettel may walk away from Ferrari having never won the title

By Jerome Pugmire May. 12, 2020 04:08 AM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, May 25, 2019 file photo, spectators watch as Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car during the third free practice at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco. Formula One’s raucous circus won’t be coming on May 24, 2020 for the iconic Monaco Grand Prix. The race was canceled on March 19 because of the coronavirus outbreak, with the jewel in F1′s crown removed for the first time in 66 years. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
Engines off: Canceled iconic F1 race dents Monaco's prestige

By Jerome Pugmire Apr. 28, 2020 05:40 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 1, 2020, file photo, Jimmie Johnson is introduced to the crowd during activities as he carries his youngest daughter Lydia as his oldest daughter Genevieve and wife Chandra follow prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Fontana, Calif. Jimmie Johnson wanted to retire from full-time racing to step away from NASCAR's 11-month grind. The coronavirus pandemic has brought his final season to an unexpected pause, and now the seven-time champion isn't sure what his future holds. (AP Photo/Will Lester, File)
Jimmie Johnson mulls future in red-flagged farewell season

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 09, 2020 02:32 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2020, file photo, IndyCar driver Alexander Rossi poses for photos during IndyCar Media Day in Austin, Texas. The IndyCar season starts with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday, March 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Penske and the aeroscreen to debut at IndyCar season opener

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 11, 2020 04:08 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 24, 2019, file photo, IndyCar driver Fernando Alonso, of Spain, drives out of the pit area during testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Alonso will once again attempt to complete motorsports' version of the Triple Crown with a return to the Indianapolis 500 in May with McLaren. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Alonso returns to McLaren for another shot at Indy 500

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 25, 2020 01:57 PM EST

Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO of The Mercedes AMG-PETRONAS F1 Team, right, and INEOS Founder and Chairman Jim Ratcliffe pose for a photo with a Mercedes F1 car and its 2020 livery during a media briefing in London, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. The Mercedes Formula One team is still waiting to secure a long-term commitment from world champion Lewis Hamilton. Wolff says he hasn't spoken to Hamilton since the Christmas party after agreeing to “leave each other in peace” in the offseason. Mercedes has longer certainty from its new sponsor INEOS, the chemicals giant owned by Jim Ratcliffe. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)
Hamilton sees a 'sign of weakness' when rivals doubt him

By Jerome Pugmire Feb. 14, 2020 09:18 AM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2020 file photo, Juan Pablo Montoya, left, and Simon Pagenaud watch teammate Dane Cameron on the track during testing for the upcoming Rolex 24 hour auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Rolex 24 begins Saturday, Jan. 25.(AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Team Penske eyes first Rolex 24 win since return 3 years ago

Jenna Fryer Jan. 24, 2020 05:58 PM EST

Driver Fernando Alonso, of Spain, center, and co-driver Marc Coma, of Spain, right, repair their Toyota after rolling over during the stage ten of the Dakar Rally between Haradth and Shubaytah, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020 photo. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Sainz pads Dakar Rally leader after rivals make wrong turns

Jan. 15, 2020 11:27 AM EST

In this Monday, Jan. 13, 2020 photo, Dakar rally staffers play petanque after stage eight in Wadi Al Dawasir, Saudi Arabia. Formerly known as the Paris-Dakar Rally, the race was created by Thierry Sabine after he got lost in the Libyan desert in 1977. Until 2008, the rallies raced across Africa, but threats in Mauritania led organizers to cancel that year's event and move it to South America. It has now shifted to Saudi Arabia. The race started on Jan. 5 with 560 drivers and co-drivers, some on motorbikes, others in cars or in trucks. Only 41 are taking part in the Original category. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
AP Photos: Navigating the desert in the Dakar Rally

By The Associated Press Jan. 15, 2020 07:20 AM EST

Kyle Busch heads to his garage during testing for the upcoming Rolex 24 hour auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Kyle Busch brings the Rowdy show to the Rolex 24 at Daytona

By Jenna Fryer Jan. 03, 2020 05:50 PM EST

FILE - In this April 22, 2018 file photo, Mexico's Patricio "Pato" O'Ward celebrates winning the Indy Lights race #2 during the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park, in Birmingham, Ala. James Hinchcliffe has been released from the new Arrow McLaren SP Racing team, two people with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press, despite repeated public assurances that the popular Canadian was not leaving the organization once McLaren came aboard. Hinchcliffe learned Sunday he was being replaced by 2018 Indy Lights Champion Pato O'Ward and said his farewells at the team shop Monday, Oct. 28, 2019, the two people said. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
McLaren confirms Askew and O'Ward for 2020 IndyCar lineup

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 30, 2019 11:52 AM EDT

FILE - In this April 22, 2018 file photo, Mexico's Patricio "Pato" O'Ward celebrates winning the Indy Lights race #2 during the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park, in Birmingham, Ala. James Hinchcliffe has been released from the new Arrow McLaren SP Racing team, two people with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press, despite repeated public assurances that the popular Canadian was not leaving the organization once McLaren came aboard. Hinchcliffe learned Sunday he was being replaced by 2018 Indy Lights Champion Pato O'Ward and said his farewells at the team shop Monday, Oct. 28, 2019, the two people said. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
AP sources: Hinchcliffe to be replaced at new McLaren team

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 29, 2019 10:20 AM EDT

FILE - In this file photo dated Sunday, May 19, 2019, Fernando Alonso, of Spain, prepares to drive during qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in Indianapolis, USA. Toyota Gazoo Racing announced Thursday Oct. 24, 2019, that two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso will race in next year’s off-road Dakar Rally, to be contested in Saudi Arabia from Jan. 5-17, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, FILE)
Two-time F1 champion Alonso to race in Dakar Rally

Oct. 24, 2019 12:10 PM EDT