The debate of which race is the best between the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a polarising topic.
Only once has a driven managed to win both, as well as the Monaco Grand Prix – which forms the ‘Triple Crown’.
Graham Hill is a name etched in history, having achieved what so many after him have attempted and failed to do.
A few drivers have come close, including current Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso, but he is yet to manage an Indy 500 win over in IndyCar.
Jacques Villeneuve delivers Indy 500 vs Le Mans verdict
Arguably, the next closest driver to matching Hill’s feat is Jacques Villeneuve – who was Formula 1 champion back in 1997.
He’s won both the Indianapolis 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix, but fell short at Le Mans after finishing second overall in 2008 with Peugeot.
Discussing which of the events is most difficult to win with the Goodwood website, he found it difficult to pick between the three disciplines.
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“F1 was lighter, more nimble, like a go-kart,” he said. “The IndyCars were super powerful and big. It was a jump, but it wasn’t reinventing the wheel.
“After my F1 test, I gained half a second in Indy qually. Three days in F1 made me a better IndyCar driver. I’m not sure what is more difficult to win, Le Mans or Indy.
“If you go in as an extra, Indy. The way Fernando [Alonso] did it, that’s always tough. If you’re not there all season, especially with the modern cars.”
Who could be next to achieve the Triple Crown?
The biggest stumbling block for achieving the Triple Crown in terms of entry is Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix.
It’s a whole lot easier to compete for victory, or find a drive in WEC or IndyCar that will provide a driver with an opportunity to at least be in with a shot of victory in the Indianapolis 500 or the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
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That means that there are only a few drivers – mainly those that have or are still competing in Formula 1 that could go and attempt the feat.
One driver who is free enough to do so is Sebastian Vettel, who has been flirting with the idea of Le Mans for a while, and has won the Monaco Grand Prix on two occasions – but it’s unlikely that he would facilitate a move to IndyCar.
Then there’s Fernando Alonso as mentioned earlier, who will find it difficult to win the American segment of this challenge while it now clashes with the Monaco Grand Prix.