Focusing on Fernando Alonso at the 2017 Indy 500

I can’t tell you how excited I was to learn that one of my favourite Formula 1 drivers, Fernando Alonso, would be taking part in this year’s Indy 500. His participation in the event changed my whole focus for the weekend.

And ‘focus’ is an apt word, since most of Rich’s photographic efforts featured the bright orange number 29 McLaren Honda Andretti car driven by Alonso.

Photographing an Indy car travelling upwards of 230 miles an hour can be quite a challenge. Your best chances are often when the cars are coming directly at you…

Or moving away…

But, of course, you want to get that side-on shot, while the cars are as close to you as possible. Unfortunately, most of these efforts end up out of focus…

Or behind a fence support…

Or both…

Even following the car with a video ends up blurred at these speeds…

But occasionally you get something halfway decent…

The above set of pictures were taken of Fernando during the final practice for the race on Carb Day. Afterwards, we were lucky enough to get into the garages. I tell you, it’s a lot easier to take photos of the cars when they’re stationary. And in pieces!

I even got my photo taken with Mr Alonso himself… sort of…

During the actual race, with a full grandstand of heads, and cars at their max speeds, Rich rarely even tries to take photos. The results are too often like this (and yes, Alonso’s car is in the frame of view: behind this person’s head, which popped up at the last moment)…

Rich did get a couple of shots during the parade laps, while the cars were circling in formation as they got up to racing speed before the start…

And his favourite is this photo, taken behind the Pace Car (so the cars were going slower), while Fernando was leading the race!…

Unfortunately, in a situation that is all too familiar to Formula 1 fans of Fernando Alonso, his race was cut short when his Honda engine gave up the ghost with 20 laps to go. Perhaps he would have had more luck in this McLaren Honda Andretti team vehicle…

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This post was inspired by the photo themes of Focus from David W. of The Daily Post and Cee’s Which Way Challenge.